Corneal Endothelial Cell Transfer

Today, different concepts of regenerative-medicine cell-based therapy are applied for the treatment of damaged tissue. Of those, one is the release of beneficial small molecules via the transfer of cultured cells to the damaged tissue to promote regeneration and reorganization of healthy tissue being functionally restored. The other involves “true replacement” of damaged cells via the transfer of cultured cells. The transfer of cultured human corneal endothelial cells (CECs) (cHCECs), termed “HCEC-injection therapy,” focuses on the latter regenerative-medicine cell-based therapy concept, in which the injection of cHCECs is used for the treatment of corneal endothelial dysfunction and failure. In cases undergoing HCEC-injection therapy, cHCECs, in combination with a Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor used to promote adhesion of the injected cHCECs onto the posterior surface of the cornea, are surgically transferred into the anterior chamber for complete recovery of corneal transparency. In HCEC-injection therapy, the high proportion of mature-differentiated cHCECs, similar to that observed in in vivo CECs, allows for safe and effective clinical application with optimal postoperative outcomes. Clinical trials investigating the efficacy of HCEC-injection therapy for patients with various corneal endothelial disorders have been completed with favorable results, thus widening the pathway for novel regenerative-medicine-treatment strategies.