Article Systemic Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatment Mitigates Structural and Functional Retinal Ganglion Cell Degeneration in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis Oliver W. Gramlich1,2,AlexanderJ.Brown3,4, Cheyanne R. Godwin1,2, Michael S. Chimenti5, Lauren K. Boland6, James A. Ankrum6, and Randy H. Kardon1,2 1 Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA 2 Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, USA 3 Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA 4 Department of Immunology & Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA 5 Iowa Institute of Human Genetics, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA 6 Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering College, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA Correspondence: Oliver W. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) Gramlich, Department of therapy efficacy on rescuing the visual system in the experimental autoimmune Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of multiple sclerosis (MS) and to provide new mecha- The University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins nistic insights. Dr, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. e-mail: Methods:
[email protected] EAE was induced in female C57BL6 mice by immunization with myelin oligo- dendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)35–55, complete Freund’s adjuvant, and pertussis toxin. Received: March 23, 2020 The findings were compared to sham-immunized mice. Half of the EAE mice received Accepted: May 26, 2020 intraperitoneally delivered stem cells (EAE + MSC).