Research Summary

Study: Allogeneic Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injections Reduce Dry Eye Disease Symptoms in Patients With Sjögren Syndrome

Anthony Calabro, MA

In a double-blind, randomized clinical trial, researchers found that allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ASC) injections into the lacrimal gland (LG) reduced the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED), specifically aqueous-deficient dry eye, in patients with Sjögren syndrome.

For their study, Møller-Hansen and colleagues enrolled 54 patients with severe DED due to Sjögren syndrome. The study participants were divided into three groups: ASC injection (single injection; n = 20), vehicle (single injection of ASC comparator; n = 20), or a non-randomized observation group (n = 14). The intervention groups received a single injection into the LG in one eye, while the observation group received lubricating eye drops only. The primary outcome measure was changes in Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score.

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The results indicated reduced OSDI scores in both intervention groups compared with the observation group. Indeed, the ASC injection group had a reduction in subjective dry eye symptoms—sustained 12 months after treatment— of about 40% measured with the OSDI. Moreover, the ASCs group had an increase in non-invasive tear break-up time compared to the vehicle group at the 4-week follow-up and to the observation group at the 12-month follow-up.

“Improvement of subjective and objective signs and symptoms of dry eye disease was observed in both intervention groups following injection into the lacrimal gland compared to the observation group,” the authors concluded. “Future studies should investigate the mode-of-action of both injection treatments.”

Reference:
Møller-Hansen M, Larsen AC, Wiencke AK, et al. Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell therapy for dry eye disease in patients with Sjögren's syndrome: a randomized clinical trial. Ocul Surf. 2024;31:1-8. doi:10.1016/j.jtos.2023.11.007