May 11 : A new study has found that bone marrow stem cells can switch roles and produce keratocan, a natural protein involved in the growth of the cornea, the transparent, outer layer of the eyeball.

This study, which has found the ability of marrow cells to ‘differentiate’ into keratocan-producing cells, might provide a means for treating abnormal corneal cell growth in people, which is a genetic disease.

The study was conducted by a team of researchers led by Winston Whei-Yang Kao and Hongshan Liu at University of Cincinnati.

As part of the study, researchers induced corneal abnormalities that mimicked genetic eye mutations, in mice and then injected bone marrow stem cells into the corneas to see if they altered the mutations.

Researchers found that after only one week, the abnormal corneas of animal models injected with bone marrow stem cells began to change shape and heal.

“We found that bone marrow stem cells can contribute to the formation of connective tissues. If we can change the function of non-corneal bone marrow stem cells by introducing them into human corneas, we can possibly repair the loss of visual sharpness caused by mutations,” Kao said.

Researchers are now planning a clinical trial. If the trial succeeds the procedure could help prevent blindness in future generations who suffer from genetic corneal diseases.

“When the donor cells disappear after a few years, the corneal disease often reoccurs. However, if we can place the stem cells inside the cornea, they will repair the lost function of the mutated gene, and stem cells can presumably renew themselves and maintain effective treatment longer, if not forever,” Kao said.

The findings of the research were presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology at Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. (ANI)