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Medic N, Boldin I, Berisha B, Matijak-Kronschachner B, Aminfar H, Schwantzer G, Müller-Lierheim WGK, van Setten GB, Horwath-Winter J. Application frequency - key indicator for the efficiency of severe dry eye disease treatment - evidence for the importance of molecular weight of hyaluronan in lubricating agents. Acta Ophthalmol 2023. [PMID: 38131131 DOI: 10.1111/aos.16609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Lubricant eye drops are the main therapeutic resource for dry eye disease (DED), with each drop representing the equivalent of ocular surface disease treatment. Thus, any reduction in the frequency of eye drop application reflects a degree of therapeutic success. Considering also the socioeconomic burden of DED, we investigated eye drop application frequency (DF) as a parameter to potentially track the success of therapy in severe DED. Hyaluronan (HA)-containing eye drops have become the first choice for tear substitution in many countries, and recent data indicate that the average molecular weight (Mw) of HA determines the therapeutic efficacy of such eye drops. This post-hoc subgroup analysis of a previously published multicentre prospective randomized open-label study, HYLAN M, is set out to compare the effects of very high Mw HA (hylan A) eye drops to comparator eye drops, containing lower Mw HA (control). METHODS Patients with severe DED (n = 47), recruited as part of the larger HYLAN M prospective, multicentre, open-label study, were randomized into two groups: hylan A and control group. In the hylan A group, 24 patients replaced their HA-containing eye drops with eye drops containing 0.15% hylan A, whereas the 23 control patients continued to use comparator HA eye drops. The DF was recorded daily by all participants over 8 weeks, and other subjective and objective parameters of DED were assessed at the time of inclusion (baseline), as well as at week 4 and 8. RESULTS There was a significant decrease in DF in the hylan A users between the baseline and week 4 (p = 0.004), remaining stable until week 8. Indeed, in contrast to the baseline, the hylan A group had a significantly lower DF than the control group at weeks 4 (p = 0.018) and 8 (p = 0.008). Likewise, the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) improved significantly between the time of inclusion and week 4 (p < 0.001) in hylan A users, remaining stable until week 8. The OSDI was similar in both groups at the baseline but it was significantly lower in the hylan A group than in the control group at week 4 (p = 0.002), remaining lower at week 8. Such a decrease in the DF and OSDI was not witnessed in the control group at any time point. The objective parameters assessed did not differ significantly within or between the two groups. CONCLUSION When treating severe DED, the DF can be significantly reduced by using very high Mw HA (3 MDa) lubricant eye drops, which better alleviate DED symptoms and decrease the OSDI scores. These drops not only provide an attractive and comfortable alternative for patients with severe DED but also offer the possibility of reducing the disease's socioeconomic burden, both for affected individuals and society as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nika Medic
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Ingrid Boldin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Bujar Berisha
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Haleh Aminfar
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Gerold Schwantzer
- Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Gysbert-Botho van Setten
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Eriks Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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van Setten GB. Ocular Surface Allostasis-When Homeostasis Is Lost: Challenging Coping Potential, Stress Tolerance, and Resilience. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1246. [PMID: 37627311 PMCID: PMC10452761 DOI: 10.3390/biom13081246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The loss of ocular surface (OS) homeostasis characterizes the onset of dry eye disease. Resilience defines the ability to withstand this threat, reflecting the ability of the ocular surface to cope with and bounce back after challenging events. The coping capacity of the OS defines the ability to successfully manage cellular stress. Cellular stress, which is central to the outcome of the pathophysiology of dry eye disease, is characterized by intensity, continuity, and receptivity, which lead to the loss of homeostasis, resulting in a phase of autocatalytic dysregulation, an event that is not well-defined. To better define this event, here, we present a model providing a potential approach when homeostasis is challenged and the coping capacities have reached their limits, resulting in the stage of heterostasis, in which the dysregulated cellular stress mechanisms take over, leading to dry eye disease. The main feature of the proposed model is the concept that, prior to the initiation of the events leading to cellular stress, there is a period of intense activation of all available coping mechanisms preventing the imminent dysregulation of ocular surface homeostasis. When the remaining coping mechanisms and resilience potential have been maximally exploited and have, finally, been exceeded, there will be a transition to manifest disease with all the well-known signs and symptoms, with a shift to allostasis, reflecting the establishment of another state of balance. The intention of this review was to show that it is possibly the phase of heterostasis preceding the establishment of allostasis that offers a better chance for therapeutic intervention and optimized recovery. Once allostasis has been established, as a new steady-state of balance at a higher level of constant cell stress and inflammation, treatment may be far more difficult, and the potential for reversal is drastically decreased. Homeostasis, once lost, can possibly not be fully recovered. The processes established during heterostasis and allostasis require different approaches and treatments for their control, indicating that the current treatment options for homeostasis need to be adapted to a more-demanding situation. The loss of homeostasis necessarily implies the establishment of a new balance; here, we refer to such a state as allostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gysbert-Botho van Setten
- St. Eriks Eye Hospital, 171 04 Solna, Sweden;
- Lab of DOHF and Wound Healing, Division of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Eugeniavägen 12/Level 6, 171 04 Solna, Sweden
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Bron AJ, Dogru M, Horwath-Winter J, Kojima T, Kovács I, Müller-Lierheim WG, van Setten GB, Belmonte C. Reflections on the Ocular Surface: Summary of the Presentations at the 4th Coronis Foundation Ophthalmic Symposium Debate: “A Multifactorial Approach to Ocular Surface Disorders” (August 31 2021). FRONT BIOSCI-LANDMRK 2022; 27:142. [DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2705142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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van Setten GB, Stachs O, Dupas B, Turhan SA, Seitz B, Reitsamer H, Winter K, Horwath-Winter J, Guthoff RF, Müller-Lierheim WGK. High Molecular Weight Hyaluronan Promotes Corneal Nerve Growth in Severe Dry Eyes. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9123799. [PMID: 33255350 PMCID: PMC7760610 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9123799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of high molecular weight hyaluronan (HMWHA) eye drops on subbasal corneal nerves in patients suffering from severe dry eye disease (DED) and to evaluate the damage of subbasal corneal nerves associated with severe DED. Designed as an international, multicenter study, 16 patients with symptoms of at least an Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score of 33, and corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) of at least Oxford grade 3, were included and randomized into two study arms. The control group continued to use their individual optimum artificial tears over the study period of eight weeks; in the verum group, the artificial tears were substituted by eye drops containing 0.15% HMWHA. At the baseline visit, and after eight weeks, the subbasal nerve plexus of 16 patients were assessed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CSLM). The images were submitted to a masked reading center for evaluation. Results showed a significant increase of total nerve fiber lengths (CNFL) in the HMWHA group (p = 0.030) when compared to the control group, where the total subbasal CNFL did not significantly change from baseline to week 8. We concluded that in severe DED patients, HMWHA from topically applied eye drops could cross the epithelial barrier and reach the subbasal nerve plexus, where it exercised a trophic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gysbert-Botho van Setten
- Department of Clininical Neuroscience, St. Eriks Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, 11282 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Oliver Stachs
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (O.S.); (R.F.G.)
| | - Bénédicte Dupas
- Quinze-Vingts National Eye Hospital & Vision Institute, 75571 Paris, France;
| | - Semra Akkaya Turhan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Marmara University School of Medicine, 34899 Istanbul, Turkey;
| | - Berthold Seitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany;
| | - Herbert Reitsamer
- Department of Ophthalmology & Department of Experimental Ophthalmology and Glaucoma Research, University Clinic Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria;
| | - Karsten Winter
- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;
| | | | - Rudolf F. Guthoff
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (O.S.); (R.F.G.)
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van Setten GB, Baudouin C, Horwath-Winter J, Böhringer D, Stachs O, Toker E, Al-Zaaidi S, Benitez-del-Castillo JM, Beck R, Al-Sheikh O, Seitz B, Barabino S, Reitsamer HA, Müller-Lierheim WG. The HYLAN M Study: Efficacy of 0.15% High Molecular Weight Hyaluronan Fluid in the Treatment of Severe Dry Eye Disease in a Multicenter Randomized Trial. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9113536. [PMID: 33147751 PMCID: PMC7693312 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9113536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the HYLAN M study was to investigate if symptoms and/or signs of patients suffering from severe dry eye disease (DED) can be improved by substituting individually optimized artificial tear therapy by high molecular weight hyaluronan (HMWHA) eye drops. In this international, multicenter study, patients with symptoms of at least ocular surface disease index (OSDI) 33 and corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) of at least Oxford grade 3 were included. A total of 84 per-protocol patients were randomized in two study arms. The control group continued to use their individual optimum artificial tears over the study period of eight weeks; in the verum group, the artificial tears were substituted by eye drops containing 0.15% HMWHA. At the week 8 visit, the average OSDI of the verum group had improved by 13.5 as compared to the control group (p = 0.001). The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) had improved by 0.04 logMAR (p = 0.033). CFS, tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer I, lid wiper epitheliopathy (LWE), mucocutaneous junction (Yamaguchi score), and tear osmolarity were not significantly different between the verum and control groups (p > 0.050). We conclude that for most patients with severe DED, 0.15% HMWHA eye drops provide excellent improvement of symptoms without impairment of dry eye signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gysbert-Botho van Setten
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St. Eriks Eye Hospital, 11282 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Christophe Baudouin
- Quinze-Vingts National Eye Hospital & Vision Institute, IHU Foresight, 75571 Paris, France;
| | | | - Daniel Böhringer
- Eye Center, University Eye Hospital Freiburg and Medical Faculty, Albert Ludwigs University, 79106 Freiburg, Germany;
| | - Oliver Stachs
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (O.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Ebru Toker
- Department of Ophthalmology, Marmara University School of Medicine, 34899 Istanbul, Turkey;
| | - Sultan Al-Zaaidi
- Department of Ophthalmology, PSMMC Prince Sultan Military Medical City, MSD Medical Services Department, MODA Ministry of Defense and Aviation, Riyadh 12233, Saudi Arabia;
| | | | - Ria Beck
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (O.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Osama Al-Sheikh
- KKESH–King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh 11462, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Berthold Seitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany;
| | - Stefano Barabino
- Ocular Surface & Dry Eye Center, Ospedale L. Sacco, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy;
| | - Herbert A. Reitsamer
- Department of Ophthalmology & Department of Experimental Ophthalmology and Glaucoma Research, University Clinic Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria;
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van Setten GB. Impact of Attrition, Intercellular Shear in Dry Eye Disease: When Cells are Challenged and Neurons are Triggered. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4333. [PMID: 32570730 PMCID: PMC7352662 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanical component in the pathophysiology of dry eye disease (DED) deserves attention as an important factor. The lubrication deficit induced impaired mechano-transduction of lid pressure to the ocular surfaces may lead to the dysregulation of homeostasis in the epithelium, with sensations of pain and secondary inflammation. Ocular pain is possibly the first sign of attrition and may occur in the absence of visible epithelial damage. Attrition is a process which involves the constant or repeated challenge of ocular surface tissues by mechanical shear forces; it is enhanced by the thinning of corneal epithelium in severe DED. As a highly dynamic process leading to pain and neurogenic inflammation, the identification of the impact of attrition and its potential pathogenic role could add a new perspective to the current more tear film-oriented models of ocular surface disease. Treatment of DED addressing lubrication deficiencies and inflammation should also consider the decrease of attrition in order to stimulate epithelial recovery and neural regeneration. The importance of hyaluronic acid, its molecular characteristics, the extracellular matrix and autoregulative mechanisms in this process is outlined. The identification of the attrition and recognition of its impact in dry eye pathophysiology could contribute to a better understanding of the disease and optimized treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gysbert-Botho van Setten
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Karolinska Institutet, 11282 Stockholm, Sweden; ; Tel.: +46-8-672-3298
- St Eriks Eye Hospital, 11282 Stockholm, Sweden
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Kojima T, Nagata T, Kudo H, Müller-Lierheim WGK, van Setten GB, Dogru M, Tsubota K. The Effects of High Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid Eye Drop Application in Environmental Dry Eye Stress Model Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21103516. [PMID: 32429217 PMCID: PMC7278919 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyaluronic acid (HA) ophthalmic solution is widely used in dry eye treatment worldwide. However, there are no reports comparing the dry eye treatment effects of high molecular weight HA with low molecular weight HA. Sixty eight-week-old C57BL/6 mice were assigned to the following 6 groups and exposed to environmental dry eye stress (EDES) that mimics office work environment: 1) 0.1% low molecular weight HA (LMWHA) eye drops, 2) 0.3% LMWHA eye drops, 3) 3% diquafosol sodium (DQ) eye drops, 4) 0.15% high molecular weight HA (HMWHA) eye drops, 5) no treatment with exposure to EDES (EDES+/Treatment-), and 6) no treatment without exposure to EDES (EDES-/Treatment-). After EDES, the HMWHA group had significantly longer break-up time (BUT) than the 0.1%, 0.3% LMWHA groups and the DQ group. After EDES, the HMWHA group had significantly lower lissamine green staining scores than the LMWHA and DQ groups. Subepithelial presumed dendritic cell density in the HMWHA group was significantly lower than the EDES+/Treatment- group. After EDES exposure, Conjunctival Muc5AC mRNA expression in the HMWHA group was significantly higher than the 0.1 and 0.3% LMWHA groups. Ophthalmic HMWHA solution may have a better dry eye treatment effect than LMWHA or DQ solution, owing to its anti-inflammatory effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Kojima
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (T.K.); (T.N.); (H.K.); (K.T.)
| | - Taeko Nagata
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (T.K.); (T.N.); (H.K.); (K.T.)
| | - Haruka Kudo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (T.K.); (T.N.); (H.K.); (K.T.)
| | | | | | - Murat Dogru
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (T.K.); (T.N.); (H.K.); (K.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-3-5363-2012; Fax: +81-3-5363-3087
| | - Kazuo Tsubota
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; (T.K.); (T.N.); (H.K.); (K.T.)
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Beck R, Stachs O, Koschmieder A, Mueller-Lierheim WGK, Peschel S, van Setten GB. Hyaluronic Acid as an Alternative to Autologous Human Serum Eye Drops: Initial Clinical Results with High-Molecular-Weight Hyaluronic Acid Eye Drops. Case Rep Ophthalmol 2019; 10:244-255. [PMID: 31692577 PMCID: PMC6760367 DOI: 10.1159/000501712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Autologous serum eye drops (ASED) are used in the treatment of most severe stages of dry eye. Once introduced, it is currently considered impossible to return to other lubricating eye drops or other commercially available therapeutic regimen. Materials and Methods In a randomized study, non-preserved high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid eye drops were offered as an alternative to 11 patients using autologous serum treatment for at least 3 months. The control group (n = 5) continued their treatment with ASED. The verum group (n = 6) used very-high-molecular-weight hyaluronic eye drops (Comfort Shield®) instead of the ASED. Results From four of initially six patients in the verum group that finished the study, 2 (50%) preferred to stay with the very-high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid eye drops beyond the trial period, the other two returned to the earlier therapy with ASED. The control group continued their treatment as before and finished the study after 8 weeks. Conclusion For the first time, artificial eye drops, i.e., high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid eye drops, offered an acceptable alternative to ASED. Some patients perceived these drops as even better than the patient's own serum. This is the first evidence that optimization of the molecular structure of hyaluronic acid can be used to create eye drops that are perceived to be better than other tested tear substitutes and even patients' own serum. This offers a new treatment perspective for patients with very severe dry eye disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ria Beck
- University Eye Hospital, Rostock, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Gysbert-Botho van Setten
- St Eriks Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Institute of Wound Research and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Ollivier FJ, Brooks DE, Kallberg ME, Komaromy AM, Lassaline ME, Andrew SE, Gelatt KN, Stevens GR, Blalock TD, van Setten GB, Schultz GS. Evaluation of various compounds to inhibit activity of matrix metalloproteinases in the tear film of horses with ulcerative keratitis. Am J Vet Res 2003; 64:1081-7. [PMID: 13677383 DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.1081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine in vitro effects of various antiproteolytic compounds on activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 in the tear film of horses with active corneal ulcers. SAMPLE POPULATION Samples of tear film obtained from the eyes of 34 horses with active ulcerative keratitis. PROCEDURE Horses were sedated, and tear samples were collected from the lower fornix of 34 ulcerated eyes by use of capillary tubes. The protease inhibitors 0.2% EDTA, 0.1% doxycycline, 10% N-acetylcysteine (NAC), 0.1% solution of a modified dipeptide that contains hydroxamic acid (ie, ilomostat), 0.1% alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (PI), 0.5% alpha1-PI, and 100% fresh equine serum (ES) were used to treat pooled samples. Amount of latent and active MMP-2 and -9 was measured by optical density scanning of gelatin zymograms of treated and untreated tear samples. RESULTS Pooled tear samples obtained from ulcerated eyes contained the latent and active forms of MMP-2 and -9. Compared with MMP activity in untreated samples, total MMP activity (sum of all bands detected) observed on the gelatin zymogram gels was reduced by 99.4% by EDTA, 96.3% by doxycycline, 98.8% by NAC, 98.9% by ilomostat, 52.4% by 0.1% alpha1-PI, 93.6% by 0.5% alpha1-PI, and 90.0% by ES. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE We documented that EDTA, doxycycline, NAC, ilomostat, alpha1PI, and ES inhibited MMP activity in vitro. Because these compounds use different mechanisms to inhibit various families of proteases in the tear film of horses, a combination of these protease inhibitors may be beneficial for treatment of corneal ulcers in horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franck J Ollivier
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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