Mesenchymal Stromal Cell–Based Therapy for Dry Eye: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Dry eye is one of the most common chronic diseases in ophthalmology. It affects quality of life and has become a public health problem that cannot be ignored. The current treatment methods mainly include artificial tear replacement therapy, anti-inflammatory therapy, and local immunosuppressive therapy. These treatments are mainly limited to improvement of ocular surface discomfort and other symptoms. In recent years, regenerative medicine has developed rapidly, and ophthalmologists are working on new methods to treat dry eye. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have anti-inflammatory, tissue repair, and immune regulatory effects, and have become a promising tool for the treatment of dry eye. These effects can also be produced by MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos). As a cell-free therapy, MSC-Exos are hypoimmunogenic, serve more stable entities, and compared with MSCs, reduce the safety risks associated with the injection of live cells. This article reviews current knowledge about MSCs and MSC-Exos, and highlights the latest progress and future prospects of MSC-based therapy in dry eye treatment.