Fig. 9
Treatment with CSSC(GMP) on mouse corneas with anterior stromal injury to validate the SI prediction of anti-scarring potency. A Mouse corneal images showing the scarring outcomes at day 14 post-treatment with CSSC(GMP) having different SI values. Cells with SI < 10 (middle row) showed strong scar inhibitory effect while cells with SI > 10 (bottom row) were ineffective to control scar formation. Anterior segment OCT images show the cross-sectional corneal changes. B Percentages of scarring area—treatment of CSSC(GMP) with SI < 10 had significant scar inhibition, whereas injured corneas treated by CSSC(GMP) with SI > 10 showed similar scarring as the untreated wound controls (WND). (C) Central corneal thickness (CCT) measured using ASOCT images (in panel A)—the scar-reducing outcome by CSSC(GMP) with SI < 10 significantly reduced corneal thickening due to stromal injury (WND). D and E Significant downregulated expression of fibrosis (αSMA, Col3a1) and inflammatory genes (iNOS and MCP1) after treatment with CSSC(GMP) having SI < 10 when compared to WND. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 (one-way ANOVA, nonparametric)