Anti-inflammatory potential of human corneal stroma-derived stem cells determined by a novel in vitro corneal epithelial injury model

Figure 5 Effect of corneal-stroma derived stem cells-conditioned medium on human corneal epithelial cells treated with the injury model. Human corneal epithelial cells (hCEC) were treated with an injury model consisting of 30 s ethanol treatment followed by stimulation with 1 ng/mL IL-1β for 72 h. Medium conditioned by corneal-stroma derived stem cells with and without pre-treatment with IL-1β was applied to the hCEC after ethanol treatment during stimulation with IL-1β. A: PrestoBlue viability assay after 72 h. Data represented relative to reading for hCEC no injury control; B: Lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity assay performed on cell supernatants after 72 h treatment. Data displayed as percentage cytotoxicity and relative to cell viability; C: Concentration of IL-6 in the supernatant 72 h after injury. Data displayed relative to cell viability; D: Concentration of IL-8 in the supernatant 72 h after injury. Data displayed relative to cell viability. Data shown as mean ± SEM of three independent experiments with four to six replicates each. Statistical significance analysed by two-way ANOVA. Significance compared to non-injured, same treatment represented by ^aP ≤ 0.05, ^bP ≤ 0.01, ^dP ≤ 0.0001. Significance compared to hCEC, no injury represented by ^cP ≤ 0.05, ^fP ≤ 0.01, ^hP ≤ 0.0001. Significance compared to hCEC, injury represented by ^eP ≤ 0.05, ^jP ≤ 0.01, ⁿP ≤ 0.001, ^lP ≤ 0.0001. hCEC: Human corneal epithelial cells; IL: Interleukin.