A Comparative study on the therapeutic potential of ocular and non-ocular stem cell secretome on alkali induced limbal stem cell niche damage

The study of secretome from stem cells has become a promising area of research in limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of secretome from AD-MSCs and LSCs in a culture of alkalidamaged LSCs as a model of limbal niche damage. Secretome was derived from 4 passages of AD-MSCs and LSCs under serum deprivation conditions. LSCs were damaged using 6,25mM NaOH to generate a limbal niche damage model and were then divided into 5 groups consisting of a control group, as well as 50% AD-MSCs, 25% AD-MSCs, 50% LSCs and 25% LSCs as the treated groups. After 48 hours of treatment, cell proliferation was determined by MTT-assay and cell migration was determined by in vitro scratch assay. VEGF supernatant was measured to analyze anti-angiogenic properties. A concentration of EGF and HGF in secretome was measured using ELISA. The data were analyzed using Oneway ANOVA dan post-hoc Tukey. Secretome derived from AD-MSCs and LSCs successfully promoted the proliferation and migration of LSCs, compared to the control, with the highest proliferation and migration rate seen in the 50% LSC secretome group ((94.38±2.51%, P 0.000; 68.52 ± 3.51%, P 0.000, respectively). EGF (1216.67 pg/mL) and HGF (2943.33 pg/mL) levels were higher in LSC secretome compared to the secretome of AD-MSCs. A 50% AD-MSC secretome with a level of VEGF supernatant at 65 pg/mL showed better anti-angiogenic activity. Secretome from ocular and non-ocular stem cells demonstrated clear therapeutic benefits inlimbal niche damage.