Study of Human Immature Dental Pulp Stem Cells Graft Potential in Limbical Region after Transplantation into Total Limbal Stem Cells Deficiency in Animal Model.

Abstract

The surface of cornea is constantly renewed by limbal stem cells, located among the cornea and sclera. Injuries in limbic region result in a conjunctivalization process, making the cornea opaque and impairing visual acuity. Normally, when one eye is affected by such opacification, the limbic autologous transplant is performed, however, the donor healthy eye may develop a limbal stem cells deficiency, after surgery. Even in patients with total limbal stem cells deficiency, in both eyes this procedure becomes impractical. Several methods have been described in order to reverse the corneal clouding or blindness, including xenograft transplantation, but in most patients the results were not satisfactory due to the rejection and / or recurrence of conjunctivalization process. Considering the troubles of established protocols for the treatment of limbal and corneal lesions, we established an efficient protocol using human immature dental pulp stem cells (Gomes et al, 2010). We also demonstrated that these cells share similar characteristics to human limbal stem cells (Monteiro et al, 2009). Herein, we aim to evaluate the potential of human immature dental pulp stem cell grafts in the limbic region, it is extremely necessary for the functional maintenance of cornea, establishing an effective and definitive treatment for corneal and limbal injuries. We also intend to establish the necessaries parameters for performance of preclinical to clinical model, looking for alternatives to reduce the costs of this technology, aiming at its future implementation in public health.