Long-term intraocular pressure-lowering efficacy and safety of ripasudil-brimonidine fixed-dose combination for glaucoma and ocular hypertension: a multicentre, open-label, phase 3 study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of ripasudil-brimonidine fixed-dose combination (RBFC), a new intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medication for glaucoma and ocular hypertension (OHT). METHODS: This prospective, multicentre (23 sites in Japan), open-label study enrolled patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), OHT or exfoliative glaucoma and assigned them to one of four combination therapy cohorts, based on previous treatment(s) received: prostaglandin (PG) analogue (Cohort 1); PG analogue and beta-adrenoceptor blocker (ß-blocker) (Cohort 2); PG analogue, ß-blocker and carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (Cohort 3); or other/no treatment (Cohort 4). After a ≥ 4-week screening period, eligible patients received twice-daily RBFC for 52 weeks in addition to the treatments they were already receiving. Efficacy was assessed by change in IOP from baseline through week 52. Adverse events and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were monitored throughout. RESULTS: In total, 179 patients from Cohort 1 (n = 48), Cohort 2 (n = 44), Cohort 3 (n = 41) and Cohort 4 (n = 46) entered the RBFC treatment period. For all cohorts, mean IOP was significantly reduced at 11:00 (2 h after instillation of RBFC) through week 52 with the changes from baseline at week 52 of - 2.7 to - 4.1 mmHg across cohorts; all p < 0.001. Common ADRs were conjunctival hyperaemia (58%), allergic conjunctivitis (18%) and blepharitis (17%), most of which were mild in severity. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrated the long-term efficacy and safety of RBFC, both alone and in combination with other anti-glaucoma agents. RBFC may offer a new treatment option for the long-term management of glaucoma and OHT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Japan Registry of Clinical Trials Identifier: jRCT2080225063. DATE OF REGISTRATION: 17 February 2020.

Chemoproteomic Identification of Blue-Light-Damaged Proteins.

Visible light, particularly in the blue region of the spectrum, can cause cell dysfunction through the generation of singlet oxygen, contributing to cellular aging and age-related pathologies. Although photooxidation of nucleic acids, lipids, and amino acids has been extensively studied, the magnitude and span of blue-light-induced protein damages within proteome remain largely unknown. Herein we present a chemoproteomic approach to mapping blue-light-damaged proteins in live mammalian cells by exploiting a nucleophilic alkyne chemical probe. A gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that cell surface proteins are more readily oxidized than other susceptible sets of proteins, including mitochondrial proteins. In particular, the integrin family of cell surface receptors (ITGs) was highly ranked in the mammalian cells tested, including human corneal endothelial cells. The blue-light-oxidized ITGB1 protein was functionally inactive in promoting cell adhesion and proliferation, suggesting that the photodamage of integrins contributes to the blue-light-induced cell dysfunction. Further application of our method to various cells and tissues should lead to a comprehensive analysis of light-sensitive proteins.

Injection of Cultured Cells with a ROCK Inhibitor for Bullous Keratopathy.

BACKGROUND: Corneal endothelial cell (CEC) disorders, such as Fuchs's endothelial corneal dystrophy, induce abnormal corneal hydration and result in corneal haziness and vision loss known as bullous keratopathy. We investigated whether injection of cultured human CECs supplemented with a rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor into the anterior chamber could increase CEC density. METHODS: We performed an uncontrolled, single-group study involving 11 persons who had received a diagnosis of bullous keratopathy and had no detectable CECs. Human CECs were cultured from a donor cornea; a total of 1×106 passaged cells were supplemented with a ROCK inhibitor (final volume, 300 µl) and injected into the anterior chamber of the eye that was selected for treatment. After the procedure, patients were placed in a prone position for 3 hours. The primary outcome was restoration of corneal transparency, with a CEC density of more than 500 cells per square millimeter at the central cornea at 24 weeks after cell injection. Secondary outcomes were a corneal thickness of less than 630 µm and an improvement in best corrected visual acuity equivalent to two lines or more on a Landolt C eye chart at 24 weeks after cell injection. RESULTS: At 24 weeks after cell injection, we recorded a CEC density of more than 500 cells per square millimeter (range, 947 to 2833) in 11 of the 11 treated eyes (100%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 72 to 100), of which 10 had a CEC density exceeding 1000 cells per square millimeter. A corneal thickness of less than 630 µm (range, 489 to 640) was attained in 10 of the 11 treated eyes (91%; 95% CI, 59 to 100), and an improvement in best corrected visual acuity of two lines or more was recorded in 9 of the 11 treated eyes (82%; 95% CI, 48 to 98). CONCLUSIONS: Injection of human CECs supplemented with a ROCK inhibitor was followed by an increase in CEC density after 24 weeks in 11 persons with bullous keratopathy. (Funded by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development and others; UMIN number, UMIN000012534 .).

Five-Year Follow-up of First 11 Patients Undergoing Injection of Cultured Corneal Endothelial Cells for Corneal Endothelial Failure.

PURPOSE: To report the safety and efficacy of a novel cell injection therapy using cultured human corneal endothelial cells (hCECs) for endothelial failure conditions via the report of the long-term 5-year postoperative clinical data from a first-in-humans clinical trial group. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. PARTICIPANTS: This study involved 11 eyes of 11 patients with pseudophakic endothelial failure conditions who underwent hCEC injection therapy between December 2013 and December 2014. METHODS: All patients underwent follow-up examinations at 1 week, 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks and 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, and 5 years after surgery. Specific corneal endothelial cell parameters (i.e., corneal endothelial cell density [ECD], coefficient of variation of area, and percentage of hexagonal cells) and central corneal thickness, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) on a Landolt C eye chart, and intraocular pressure (IOP) were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the change in central ECD after cell injection therapy, and the secondary outcome was corneal thickness, BCVA, and IOP during the 5-year-postoperative follow-up period. RESULTS: At 5 years after surgery, normal corneal endothelial function was restored in 10 of the 11 eyes, the mean ± standard deviation central corneal ECD was 1257 ± 467 cells/mm2 (range, 601-2067 cells/mm2), BCVA improved significantly in 10 treated eyes, the mean visual acuity changed from 0.876 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution before surgery to 0.046 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution after surgery, and no major adverse reactions directly related to the hCEC injection therapy were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this study confirmed the safety and efficacy of cultured hCEC injection therapy for up to 5 years after surgery.

Corneal endothelial cell therapy: feasibility of cell culture from corneas stored in organ culture.

In 2013, a clinical trial was initiated to investigate cell therapy for the treatment of corneal endothelial decompensation. Cultivating human corneal endothelial cells (CECs) while maintaining their functional phenotype is challenging; therefore, establishment of a confirmed protocol is pivotal for obtaining approval from regulatory authorities for use of cellular therapy products. In this study, we evaluated organ culture (OC) as a storage method for donor corneas used as a raw material for establishing CEC cultures. OC allows storage of corneal tissue for conventional corneal transplantation at 31-37 °C for up to 5 weeks, whereas storage at 4 °C is limited to 2 weeks. We investigated 20 pairs of corneas: one cornea of each pair was stored in OC and the other in cold storage for one week before CEC culture. In 15/20 cases, the CECs assumed a hexagonal sheet-like monolayer structure and expressed endothelial function-related markers. CECs were also obtained from OC corneas that had been stored for 1 (n = 19) and 2 (n = 7) months. As a further test, CECs were cultivated from 5 OC corneas that had been transported from France to Japan. In all cases, these corneas, even after international transport, generated CECs that formed hexagonal monolayers with clinically applicable and sufficiently high cell densities. In conclusion, the CEC cultures required for endothelial cell therapy can be obtained from OC corneas without changing the standard storage operating procedures of the eye banks.

Wide-field contact specular microscopy analysis of corneal endothelium post trabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: This study investigates the possible role of the filtration bleb in the continuous decrease in corneal endothelial cell (CEC) density observed following trabeculectomy. METHODS: This study involved 51 eyes of 37 glaucoma patients who underwent trabeculectomy. The CEC density was determined by contact specular microscopy in three areas: (1) the cornea center, (2) near the trabeculectomy filtration bleb, and (3) the opposite side of the bleb. The eyes were grouped according to post-surgical follow-up years: 0-1 (Group 1), 1-2 (Group 2), 2-3 (Group 3), 3-4, (Group 4), and 4+ years (Group 5). RESULTS: The mean CEC densities at the opposite side of the bleb, in the cornea center, and near the bleb were 2210 ± 487, 1930 ± 528, and 1519 ± 507 cells/mm2, respectively, in all eyes. The CEC density was significantly lower near the bleb than at the other two sites. The coefficient of variation was significantly higher near the bleb than at the other two sites. The CEC densities at the cornea center and at the opposite side of the bleb showed no significant differences. However, the CEC densities near the bleb showed time-dependent decreases to 1790, 1601, 1407, 1339, and 1224 cells/mm2 for Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CEC density following trabeculectomy decreased near the bleb, but not at the cornea center, suggesting that the involvement of the filtration bleb in CEC density loss should be further examined to elucidate the pathology of CEC loss following trabeculectomy.

Involvement of ZEB1 and Snail1 in excessive production of extracellular matrix in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy.

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) due to corneal endothelial cell degeneration is a major cause of corneal transplantation. It is characterized by abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM), such as corneal guttae, accompanied by a loss of endothelial cells. Although recent studies have revealed several genomic factors, the molecular pathophysiology of FECD has not yet been revealed. In this study, we establish a cellular in vitro model by using immortalized corneal endothelial cells obtained from late-onset FECD and control patients and examined the involvement of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) on excessive ECM production. We demonstrate that the EMT-inducing genes ZEB1 and SNAI1 were highly expressed in corneal endothelial cells in FECD and were involved in excessive production of ECM proteins, such as type I collagen and fibronectin through the transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß signaling pathway. Furthermore, we found that SB431542, a specific inhibitor of TGF-ß type I ALK receptors, suppressed the expression of ZEB1 and Snail1 followed by reduced production of ECM. These findings suggest that increased expression levels of ZEB1 and Snail1 in FECD cells were responsible for an increased responsiveness to TGF-ß present in the aqueous humor and excessive production of ECM. In addition, these results suggest that the regulation of EMT-related genes by blocking the TGF-ß signaling pathway may be a feasible therapeutic strategy for FECD.

Corneal endothelial cell fate is maintained by LGR5 through the regulation of hedgehog and Wnt pathway.

Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5), a target of Wnt signaling, is reportedly a marker of intestine, stomach, and hair follicle stem cells in mice. To gain a novel insight into the role of LGR5 in human corneal tissue, we performed gain- and loss-of-function studies. The findings of this study show for the first time that LGR5 is uniquely expressed in the peripheral region of human corneal endothelial cells (CECs) and that LGR5((+)) cells have some stem/progenitor cell characteristics, and that in human corneal endothelium, LGR5 is the target molecule and negative feedback regulator of the Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway. Interestingly, the findings of this study show that persistent LGR5 expression maintained endothelial cell phenotypes and inhibited mesenchymal transformation (MT) through the Wnt pathway. Moreover, R-spondin-1, an LGR5 ligand, dramatically accelerated CEC proliferation and also inhibited MT through the Wnt pathway. These findings provide new insights into the underlying homeostatic regulation of human corneal endothelial stem/progenitor cells by LGR5 through the HH and Wnt pathways.

Synthetic molecules that protect cells from anoikis and their use in cell transplantation.

One of the major problems encountered in cell transplantation is the low level of survival of transplanted cells due to detachment-induced apoptosis, called anoikis. The present study reports on the chemical synthesis and biological evaluation of water-soluble molecules that protect suspended cells from anoikis. The synthetic molecules bind to and induce clusters of integrins and heparan-sulfate-bound syndecans, two classes of receptors that are important for extracellular matrix-mediated cell survival. Molecular biological analysis indicates that such molecules prolong the survival of suspended NIH3T3 cells, at least in part, by promoting clustering of syndecan-4 and integrin ß1 on the cell surface, leading to the activation of small GTPase Rac-1 and Akt. In vivo experiments using animal disease models demonstrated the ability of the molecules to improve cell engraftment. The cluster-inducing molecules may provide a starting point for the design of new synthetic tools for cell-based therapy.

Pharmacokinetics of ganciclovir eye drops: a comparative study of solutions prepared from ganciclovir for intravenous infusion and ganciclovir gel.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of ganciclovir eye drops by comparing solutions prepared from ganciclovir for intravenous infusion and ganciclovir gel and to assess the impact of systemic administration on drug levels in ocular tissues and serum. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study design. METHODS: Ganciclovir solutions (0.5% and 1.0%) prepared by diluting DENOSINE ® IV Infusion in saline and 0.15% ganciclovir gel (Virgan®) were topically administered in rabbit eyes, with and without concomitant systemic administration of ganciclovir. The concentrations of ganciclovir in the corneal epithelium, stroma, and endothelium, aqueous humor; and blood plasma were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: The ganciclovir solutions (0.5% and 1.0%) maintained therapeutic ganciclovir levels in the corneal endothelium above the effective dose required for 50% inhibition (ED50) up to 6 h, albeit with a swift decline thereafter. The 0.15% ganciclovir gel maintained higher therapeutic concentrations in the corneal endothelium for up to 12 h, exceeding the ED50. Serum concentrations of ganciclovir were significantly elevated in the groups receiving combined systemic administration. CONCLUSION: Topical application of 0.15% ganciclovir gel maintained high endothelial concentrations, well above the therapeutic threshold, with or without systemic administration. Furthermore, the observed increase in ganciclovir levels within the plasma and aqueous humor following systemic administration posits it as a viable strategy for severe cases of cytomegalovirus corneal endotheliitis or those inadequately managed by local treatments alone.

Guttae Morphology After Cultured Corneal Endothelial Cell Transplant in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy.

Importance: Whether guttae in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) can be removed by polishing without Descemet stripping and whether postoperative maintenance of reduced guttae can be achieved through cultured corneal endothelial cell (CEC) transplant therapy are critical issues to be addressed. Objective: To investigate the decrease of guttae through polishing degenerated CECs and abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM) without Descemet stripping and to observe the behavior of guttae following cultured CEC transplant. Design, Setting, and Participants: This case series prospective observational study was conducted in a hospital outpatient clinic setting. Between December 2013 and January 2019, 22 eyes with corneal endothelial failure caused by FECD received cultured CEC transplant therapy at Kyoto Prefectural University Hospital. Of these, 15 eyes were consistently monitored at the same central corneal area during the preoperative phase, as well as in the early (within 1 year) and late (after 3 years) postoperative phases. The images from these phases were categorized into 3 groups: typical guttae, atypical guttae, and no guttae. Exposures: Cultured CEC transplant therapy. Main Outcomes: Proportion of guttae in the observable area was measured, comparing the early and late postoperative phases for each group. Results: The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 69 years (range, 49-79 years). All 15 eyes exhibited the presence of confluent guttae preoperatively (100%). Among these, 3 of 15 eyes belonged to male patients. The early postoperative phase of guttae morphologies was classified into 3 groups: 5 eyes with typical guttae, 7 with atypical guttae, and 3 with no guttae. The decrease in the number of these guttae was achieved by surgical procedures. The median percentage of guttae in the typical guttae, atypical guttae, and no guttae groups was 41.8%, 44.4%, and 16.2%, respectively, in the early phase, and 42.2%, 38.2%, and 18.8%, respectively, in the late phase. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings demonstrate that in some cases of FECD, guttae can be removed by scraping and polishing abnormal ECM and degenerated CECs, while preserving the Descemet membrane. Furthermore, cultured CEC transplant resulted in no increase in guttae for up to 3 years, providing insights into surgically eliminating guttae.

Dysregulation of the TCF4 Isoform in Corneal Endothelial Cells of Patients With Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy.

Purpose: This study evaluated the dysregulation of TCF4 isoforms and differential exon usage (DEU) in corneal endothelial cells (CECs) of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) with or without trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansion in the intron region of the TCF4 gene. Methods: Three RNA-Seq datasets of CECs (our own and two other previously published datasets) derived from non-FECD control and FECD subjects were analyzed to identify TCF4 isoforms and DEU events dysregulated in FECD by comparing control subjects to those with FECD with TNR expansion and FECD without TNR expansion. Results: Our RNA-Seq data demonstrated upregulation of three TCF4 isoforms and downregulation of two isoforms in FECD without TNR expansion compared to the controls. In FECD with TNR expansion, one isoform was upregulated and one isoform was downregulated compared to the control. Additional analysis using two other datasets identified that the TCF4-277 isoform was upregulated in common in all three datasets in FECD with TNR expansion, whereas no isoform was dysregulated in FECD without TNR expansion. DEU analysis showed that one exon (E174) upstream of the TNR, which only encompassed TCF4-277, was upregulated in common in all three datasets, whereas eight exons downstream of the TNR were downregulated in common in all three datasets in FECD with TNR expansion. Conclusions: This study identified TCF4-277 as a dysregulated isoform in FECD with TNR expansion, suggesting a potential contribution of TCF4-277 to FECD pathophysiology.

U-Net Convolutional Neural Network for Real-Time Prediction of the Number of Cultured Corneal Endothelial Cells for Cellular Therapy.

Corneal endothelial decompensation is treated by the corneal transplantation of donor corneas, but donor shortages and other problems associated with corneal transplantation have prompted investigations into tissue engineering therapies. For clinical use, cells used in tissue engineering must undergo strict quality control to ensure their safety and efficacy. In addition, efficient cell manufacturing processes are needed to make cell therapy a sustainable standard procedure with an acceptable economic burden. In this study, we obtained 3098 phase contrast images of cultured human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs). We labeled the images using semi-supervised learning and then trained a model that predicted the cell centers with a precision of 95.1%, a recall of 92.3%, and an F-value of 93.4%. The cell density calculated by the model showed a very strong correlation with the ground truth (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.97, p value = 8.10 × 10-52). The total cell numbers calculated by our model based on phase contrast images were close to the numbers calculated using a hemocytometer through passages 1 to 4. Our findings confirm the feasibility of using artificial intelligence-assisted quality control assessments in the field of regenerative medicine.

Change in Visual Acuity of Patients With Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy Over 1 Year.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the clinical and paraclinical course of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) over 1 year is related to the extent of triplet repetition in the transcription factor 4 (TCF4) gene. METHODS: A prospective study with a 1-year follow-up was conducted. A total of 104 patients (160 eyes) with FECD and an equivalent number of age- and sex-matched control subjects without FECD were included. At inclusion, the corneas were graded using the modified Krachmer grade (KG) and patients were genotyped for the number of trinucleotide repeats (TNRs) in the TCF4 gene by the short tandem repeat assay. Visual acuity, Scheimpflug tomographic features, and the Visual Function and Corneal Health Status using a visual disability instrument were measured on 2 visits at 1-year intervals. RESULTS: KGs ranged from 1 to 6, and 46% of eyes had grades 1 to 4. 71% of the patients harbored TNR expansion (>40) versus 13% in control subjects (P < 0.001). Severity at inclusion was higher in the presence of TNR expansion when considering eyes independently (mean grade ±SD, 4.08 ± 1.42) without TNR expansion and 4.66 ± 1.27 with TNR expansion (P = 0.024). In 1 year, the ETDRS score significantly decreased by -2.97 (95% confidence interval -4.69 to -1.26, P = 0.001) and the ETDRS score with glare by -4.25 (95% confidence interval -6.22 to -2.27, P < 10-5). There was no relationship between the rate of decline and TNR expansion or KG. Central corneal thickness and Visual Function and Corneal Health Status scores did not significantly vary. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to measure a subtle progression of FECD over a period as short as 1 year. We did not find a relationship between the presence of TNR expansion and the speed of deterioration over 1 year. This work should facilitate the design of future clinical trials on FECD.Trial Registration-URL: ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: French Fuchs Follow-up Study (F3S): NCT03974230.

Change in Visual Acuity of Patients With Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy Over 1 Year.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the clinical and paraclinical course of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) over 1 year is related to the extent of triplet repetition in the transcription factor 4 (TCF4) gene. METHODS: A prospective study with a 1-year follow-up was conducted. A total of 104 patients (160 eyes) with FECD and an equivalent number of age- and sex-matched control subjects without FECD were included. At inclusion, the corneas were graded using the modified Krachmer grade (KG) and patients were genotyped for the number of trinucleotide repeats (TNRs) in the TCF4 gene by the short tandem repeat assay. Visual acuity, Scheimpflug tomographic features, and the Visual Function and Corneal Health Status using a visual disability instrument were measured on 2 visits at 1-year intervals. RESULTS: KGs ranged from 1 to 6, and 46% of eyes had grades 1 to 4. 71% of the patients harbored TNR expansion (>40) versus 13% in control subjects ( P < 0.001). Severity at inclusion was higher in the presence of TNR expansion when considering eyes independently (mean grade ±SD, 4.08 ± 1.42) without TNR expansion and 4.66 ± 1.27 with TNR expansion ( P = 0.024). In 1 year, the ETDRS score significantly decreased by -2.97 (95% confidence interval -4.69 to -1.26, P = 0.001) and the ETDRS score with glare by -4.25 (95% confidence interval -6.22 to -2.27, P < 10 -5 ). There was no relationship between the rate of decline and TNR expansion or KG. Central corneal thickness and Visual Function and Corneal Health Status scores did not significantly vary. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to measure a subtle progression of FECD over a period as short as 1 year. We did not find a relationship between the presence of TNR expansion and the speed of deterioration over 1 year. This work should facilitate the design of future clinical trials on FECD.

ROCK inhibitor converts corneal endothelial cells into a phenotype capable of regenerating in vivo endothelial tissue.

Corneal endothelial dysfunction accompanied by visual disturbance is a primary indication for corneal transplantation. We previously reported that the adhesion of corneal endothelial cells (CECs) to a substrate was enhanced by the selective ROCK inhibitor Y-27632. It is hypothesized that the inhibition of ROCK signaling may manipulate cell adhesion properties, thus enabling the transplantation of cultivated CECs as a form of regenerative medicine. In the present study, using a rabbit corneal endothelial dysfunction model, the transplantation of CECs in combination with Y-27632 successfully achieved the recovery of corneal transparency. Complications related to cell injection therapy, such as the abnormal deposition of the injected cells as well as the elevation of intraocular pressure, were not observed. Reconstructed corneal endothelium with Y-27632 exhibited a monolayer hexagonal cell shape with a normal expression of function-related markers, such as ZO-1, and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, whereas reconstruction without Y-27632 exhibited a stratified fibroblastic phenotype without the expression of markers. Moreover, transplantation of CECs in primates in the presence of the ROCK inhibitor also achieved the recovery of long-term corneal transparency with a monolayer hexagonal cell phenotype at a high cell density. Taken together, these results suggest that the selective ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 enables cultivated CEC-based therapy and that the modulation of Rho-ROCK signaling activity serves to enhance cell engraftment for cell-based regenerative medicine.

Visual improvement after cultivated oral mucosal epithelial transplantation.

PURPOSE: To report the effectiveness, disease-specific outcomes, and safety of cultivated oral mucosal epithelial sheet transplantation (COMET), with the primary objective of visual improvement. DESIGN: Noncomparative, retrospective, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: This study involved 46 eyes in 40 patients with complete limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) who underwent COMET for visual improvement. These LSCD disorders fell into the following 4 categories: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS; 21 eyes), ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP; 10 eyes), thermal or chemical injury (7 eyes), or other diseases (8 eyes). METHODS: Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and ocular surface grading score were examined before surgery; at the 4th, 12th, and 24th postoperative week; and at the last follow-up. Data on COMET-related adverse events and postoperative management were collected. The outcomes in each disease category were evaluated separately. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the change in median logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVA at the 24th postoperative week. The secondary outcome was the ocular surface grading score. RESULTS: Median logMAR BCVA at baseline was 2.40 (range, 1.10 to 3.00). In SJS, logMAR BCVA improved significantly during the 24 weeks after surgery. In contrast, the BCVA in OCP was improved significantly only at the 4th postoperative week. In 6 of the 7 thermal or chemical injury cases, logMAR BCVA improved after planned penetrating keratoplasty or deep lamellar keratoplasty. Grading scores of ocular surface abnormalities improved in all categories. Of 31 patients with vision loss (logMAR BCVA, >2) at baseline, COMET produced improvement (logMAR BCVA, ≤2) in 15 patients (48%). Visual improvement was maintained with long-term follow-up (median, 28.7 months). Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that corneal neovascularization and symblepharon were correlated significantly with logMAR BCVA improvement at the 24th postoperative week (P=0.0023 and P=0.0173, respectively). Although postoperative persistent epithelial defects and slight to moderate corneal infection occurred in the eyes of 16 and 2 patients, respectively, all were treated successfully with no eye perforation. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term visual improvement was achievable in cases of complete LSCD. Cultivated oral mucosal epithelial sheet transplantation offered substantial visual improvement even for patients with end-stage severe ocular surface disorders accompanying severe tear deficiency. Patients with corneal blindness such as SJS benefited from critical improvement of visual acuity. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in anymaterials discussed in this article.

Twelve-year outcome of Rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor eye drop treatment for Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy: A case study.

Purpose: To report the safety, efficacy, and long-term outcome in a case of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) treated by Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK)-inhibitor eye drops in combination with removal of degenerated corneal endothelial cells (CECs) subsequent to transcorneal freezing. Observations: A 52-year-old Japanese man diagnosed with early-stage FECD developed central corneal edema with decreased visual acuity (VA) in his left eye and was treated by ROCK inhibitor eye drops (Y-27632 10mM) q.i.d. for 1 week starting immediately subsequent to the removal of the damaged CECs via 2-mm-diameter transcorneal freezing in May 18, 2010. Before treatment, the best-corrected VA (BCVA) was 20/20 OD and 20/63 OS, and the central corneal thickness in the left eye was 643 µm and specular microscopy image at the central cornea was not detected due to edema. Corneal transparency recovered, and the BCVA improved to 20/20 within two weeks. At 12 years post treatment, the cornea in left eye remained transparent without corneal edema, and the CEC density at the central cornea was 1294 cells/mm2 and the central corneal thickness was 581 µm. The annual decrease of CECs at the central cornea was 1.1%, and VA was maintained at 20/25. Multiple guttae were observed in the peripheral region, but few in the central region were removed by transcorneal freezing treatment, and relatively normal and healthy CECs were observed. Conclusions and importance: The findings in this case suggest the potential long-term safety and efficacy of the medical therapy by ROCK-inhibitor eye drop for early-stage FECD.

RNA-Seq-based transcriptome analysis of corneal endothelial cells derived from patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy.

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is the most common inherited corneal disease. Fibrillar focal excrescences called guttae and corneal edema due to corneal endothelial cell death result in progressive vision loss. Multiple genetic variants have been reported, but the pathogenesis of FECD is not fully understood. In this study, we used RNA-Seq to analyze differential gene expression in the corneal endothelium obtained from patients with FECD. Differential expression analysis of transcriptomic profiles revealed that expression of 2366 genes (1092 upregulated and 1274 downregulated genes) was significantly altered in the corneal endothelium of patients with FECD compared to healthy subjects. Gene ontology analysis demonstrated an enrichment of genes involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, response to oxidative stress, and apoptotic signaling. Several pathway analyses consistently indicated the dysregulation of ECM-associated pathways. Our differential gene expression findings support the previously proposed underlying mechanisms, including oxidative stress and apoptosis of endothelial cells, as well as the phenotypic clinical FECD hallmark of ECM deposits. Further investigation focusing on differentially expressed genes related to these pathways might be beneficial for elucidating mechanisms and developing novel therapies.