Preliminary evaluation of safety and migration of immune activated mesenchymal stromal cells administered by subconjunctival injection for equine recurrent uveitis.

Summary

Equine recurrent uveitis affects approximately one in four horses in the USA and represents the leading cause of preventable blindness in the species, making novel therapeutic approaches urgently needed. Researchers administered toll-like receptor-3-activated mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) via subconjunctival injection to healthy horses, selecting this immunomodulatory cell therapy because TLR agonist preconditioning amplifies the anti-inflammatory properties of MSCs. The investigation tracked safety parameters and cellular migration patterns over a 14-day period, establishing baseline data before moving toward clinical trials in affected animals. Key findings demonstrated that allogeneic activated MSCs remained localised at the injection site for the duration of observation without triggering ocular or systemic inflammatory responses, meeting the primary study criteria for proceeding to efficacy testing. For equine practitioners, these results suggest that subconjunctival MSC delivery represents a viable approach to modulate the chronic immune dysregulation driving ERU, though controlled clinical trials are now required to determine whether this strategy can reduce relapse frequency and preserve vision in naturally affected horses.

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Key Findings

• •TLR-3 agonist-activated mesenchymal stromal cells were successfully administered via subconjunctival injection in healthy horses without inducing ocular or systemic inflammation
• •Activated allogeneic MSCs demonstrated extended retention in the conjunctiva for >14 days post-injection
• •This preliminary safety evaluation supports further clinical application in horses with equine recurrent uveitis

Conditions Studied

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