LIMBAL TRANSPLANTATION AS A METHOD OF LOCAL IMMUNE TOLERANCE INDUCTION IN HIGH RISK KERATOPLASTY

Abstract

Activation of destructive adaptive and inherited immunity is the main reason of graft opacification by high-risk keratoplasty. Approximately 46% of recipients from this group are absolute resistant to immunosuppressive therapy with glucocorticoids and cyclosporine A and need tolerization. Discovery of limbal mesenchymal stem cells that resemble phenotype of mesenchymal stem cells of bone marrow reveal the prospects of their use like inductors of local immune tolerance in high-risk keratoplasty. It will help to increase percentage of successful engraftment and shorten the period of medical immunosuppression.

Keywords

• keratoplasty
• immune tolerance
• limbal mesenchymal stem cells.