Transplanting Lacrimal Glands

This year researchers demonstrated the ability to transplant bioengineered organ and observe functional regeneration to some extent on an animal model. In this case, the organ was the lacrimal gland and it was transplanted into mice who saw restored neural communication and tear production. Lacrimal glands produce the tears that coat the surface of your eyes in order to protect the corneal epithelium and preserve proper ocular function.

Dry-Eye Disease involves the dysfunction of this gland and is the most prevalent cause of corneal damage. Lacrimal gland dysfunction can be caused by certain diseases, environmental exposure, long-term visual work, contact lense use, as side-effects from optical surgery, etc. Dry-Eye can result in discomfort, loss of vision, and lost quality of life.

These researchers bioengineered their mouse lacrimal gland using dissociated single cells from epithelial and mesenchymal tissues of embryonic day-16.5 murine-lacrimal germ and harderian gland germs. This method is called the organ germ method, involving growing the cells in an organ culture. The gland germs were engrafted in correct orientation on the eye of 7-week-old mice with the utilization of an engineered epithelial, tissue-connecting plastic device. Within 30 days, transplant growth was apparent and overall, approximately 75% of the gland transplants were successful, containing near-natural acini diameters and characteristic pigments and also made successful connection to the lacrimal duct, restoring secretory function.

This article is very interesting to me because I have bad vision which continues to degrade and any advancement of ophthalmic therapy could help me immensely someday. Also, one of my family members has Dry-Eye Disease (DED) and I experience first-hand how it can decrement daily experiences and visual enjoyment. Current therapies such as artificial tears are not completely satisfactory and also expensive. The development of standard techniques for research and application of bioengineered organs and transplants is very necessary for all of us to begin to see fruits of its use, saving and improving lives, and in the advancement of science in general.

http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2013/131001/ncomms3497/pdf/ncomms3497.pdf