Implantation of adipose-derived stem cells cures the optic nerve injury on rats through inhibiting the expression of inflammation factors in the TLR4 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The use of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) to cure the optic nerve injury was never shown previously. Here, we implanted purified ADSCs into optic nerve injury of rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used in this study. The vision degeneration was detected by Flash-visual evoked potential (F-VEP) assay. The expression of Macrophage-1 (Mac-1), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) were studied by Western blot. The expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the optical nerve lysates were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: We f ound o ut t hat A DSC i mplantation inhibits the amplitude decrease and latency increase of the P1 wave caused by the optic nerve injury. The expression of the inflammation associated proteins of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway, including Mac-1, MyD88, NF-κB, IL-6, and TNF-α, were inhibited in the ADSC therapy group compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that ADSC implantation can inhibit the inflammation after the optic nerve injury and improve the functional vision impairment. These findings suggested ADSC implantation as a translational therapy method for optic nerve injury in clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]