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Paschalis EI, Zhou C, Sharma J, Dohlman TH, Kim S, Lei F, Chodosh J, Vavvas D, Urtti A, Papaliodis G, Dohlman CH. The prophylactic value of TNF-α inhibitors against retinal cell apoptosis and optic nerve axon loss after corneal surgery or trauma. Acta Ophthalmol 2024; 102:e381-e394. [PMID: 37803488 PMCID: PMC10997738 DOI: 10.1111/aos.15786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Late secondary glaucoma is an often-severe complication after acute events like anterior segment surgery, trauma and infection. TNF-α is a major mediator that is rapidly upregulated, diffusing also to the retina and causes apoptosis of the ganglion cells and degeneration of their optic nerve axons (mediating steps to glaucomatous damage). Anti-TNF-α antibodies are in animals very effective in protecting the retinal cells and the optic nerve-and might therefore be useful prophylactically against secondary glaucoma in future such patients. Here we evaluate (1) toxicity and (2) efficacy of two TNF-α inhibitors (adalimumab and infliximab), in rabbits by subconjunctival administration. METHODS For drug toxicity, animals with normal, unburned corneas were injected with adalimumab (0.4, 4, or 40 mg), or infliximab (1, 10, or 100 mg). For drug efficacy, other animals were subjected to alkali burn before such injection, or steroids (for control). The rabbits were evaluated clinically with slit lamp and photography, electroretinography, optical coherence tomography, and intraocular pressure manometry. A sub-set of eyes were stained ex vivo after 3 days for retinal cell apoptosis (TUNEL). In other experiments the optic nerves were evaluated by paraphenylenediamine staining after 50 or 90 days. Loss of retinal cells and optic nerve degeneration were quantified. RESULTS Subconjunctival administration of 0.4 mg or 4.0 mg adalimumab were well tolerated, whereas 40.0 mg was toxic to the retina. 1, 10, or 100 mg infliximab were also well tolerated. Analysis of the optic nerve axons after 50 days confirmed the safety of 4.0 mg adalimumab and of 100 mg infliximab. For efficacy, 4.0 mg adalimumab subconjunctivally in 0.08 mL provided practically full protection against retinal cell apoptosis 3 days following alkali burn, and infliximab 100 mg only slightly less. At 90 days following burn injury, control optic nerves showed about 50% axon loss as compared to 8% in the adalimumab treatment group. CONCLUSIONS Subconjunctival injection of 4.0 mg adalimumab in rabbits shows no eye toxicity and provides excellent neuroprotection, both short (3 days) and long-term (90 days). Our total. accumulated data from several of our studies, combined with the present paper, suggest that corneal injuries, including surgery, might benefit from routine administration of anti-TNF-α biologics to reduce inflammation and future secondary glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleftherios I. Paschalis
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston Keratoprosthesis Laboratory/Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Disruptive Technology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Chengxin Zhou
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston Keratoprosthesis Laboratory/Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Disruptive Technology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jyoti Sharma
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston Keratoprosthesis Laboratory/Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Disruptive Technology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas H. Dohlman
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston Keratoprosthesis Laboratory/Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sarah Kim
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston Keratoprosthesis Laboratory/Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Fengyang Lei
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston Keratoprosthesis Laboratory/Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Disruptive Technology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James Chodosh
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston Keratoprosthesis Laboratory/Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Disruptive Technology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Demetrios Vavvas
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Arto Urtti
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Finland and School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - George Papaliodis
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Claes H. Dohlman
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston Keratoprosthesis Laboratory/Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Abstract
Millions of people worldwide are bilaterally blind due to corneal diseases including infectious etiologies, trauma, and chemical injuries. While corneal transplantation can successfully restore sight in many, corneal graft survival decreases in eyes with chronic inflammation and corneal vascularization. Additionally, the availability of donor cornea material can be limited, especially in underdeveloped countries where corneal blindness may also be highly prevalent. Development of methods to create and implant an artificial cornea (keratoprosthesis)may be the only option for patients whose eye disease is not suitable for corneal transplantation or who live in regions where corneal transplantation is not possible. The Boston keratoprosthesis (B-KPro) is the most commonly implanted keratoprosthesis worldwide, having restored vision in thousands of patients. This article describes the initial design of the B-KPro and the modifications that have been made over many years. Additionally, some of the complications of surgical implantation and long-term care challenges, particularly complicating inflammation and glaucoma, are discussed. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Vision Science, Volume 8 is September 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claes Dohlman
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
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Zhou C, Robert MC, Kapoulea V, Lei F, Stagner AM, Jakobiec FA, Dohlman CH, Paschalis EI. Sustained Subconjunctival Delivery of Infliximab Protects the Cornea and Retina Following Alkali Burn to the Eye. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2017; 58:96-105. [PMID: 28114570 PMCID: PMC5231904 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.16-20339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is upregulated in eyes following corneal alkali injury and contributes to corneal and also retinal damage. Prompt TNF-α inhibition by systemic infliximab ameliorates retinal damage and improves corneal wound healing. However, systemic administration of TNF-α inhibitors carries risk of significant complications, whereas topical eye-drop delivery is hindered by poor ocular bioavailability and the need for patient adherence. This study investigates the efficacy of subconjunctival delivery of TNF-α antibodies using a polymer-based drug delivery system (DDS). Methods The drug delivery system was prepared using porous polydimethylsiloxane/polyvinyl alcohol composite fabrication and loaded with 85 μg of infliximab. Six Dutch-belted pigmented rabbits received ocular alkali burn with NaOH. Immediately after the burn, subconjunctival implantation of anti-TNF-α DDS was performed in three rabbits while another three received sham DDS (without antibody). Rabbits were followed with photography for 3 months. Results After 3 months, the device was found to be well tolerated by the host and the eyes exhibited less corneal damage as compared to eyes implanted with a sham DDS without drug. The low dose treatment suppressed CD45 and TNF-α expression in the burned cornea and inhibited retinal ganglion cell apoptosis and optic nerve degeneration, as compared to the sham DDS treated eyes. Immunolocalization revealed drug penetration in the conjunctiva, cornea, iris, and choroid, with residual infliximab in the DDS 3 months after implantation. Conclusions This reduced-risk biologic DDS improves corneal wound healing and provides retinal neuroprotection, and may be applicable not only to alkali burns but also to other inflammatory surgical procedures such as penetrating keratoplasty and keratoprosthesis implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengxin Zhou
- Boston Keratoprosthesis Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States 2Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Marie-Claude Robert
- Department of Ophthalmology, Université de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 4Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montreal, Hospital Notre-Dame, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Vassiliki Kapoulea
- Boston Keratoprosthesis Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States 2Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Fengyang Lei
- Boston Keratoprosthesis Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States 2Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Anna M Stagner
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States 5David G. Cogan Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Frederick A Jakobiec
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States 5David G. Cogan Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Claes H Dohlman
- Boston Keratoprosthesis Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States 2Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Eleftherios I Paschalis
- Boston Keratoprosthesis Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States 2Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States 6Disruptive Technology Laboratory (D.T.L.), Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
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