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Geldanamycin is effective in the treatment of herpes simplex virus epithelial keratitis in a rabbit model
Author(s) -
Wu Xing,
Tao Peizhen,
Nie Hongping
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
clinical and experimental ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.3
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1442-9071
pISSN - 1442-6404
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9071.2011.02558.x
Subject(s) - geldanamycin , herpes simplex virus , keratitis , medicine , virus , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , dermatology , hsp90 , biochemistry , heat shock protein , gene
A bstract Background: To evaluate the efficacy of geldanamycin eye drops against herpes simplex virus epithelial keratitis in a rabbit model. Methods: New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into four groups and infected with herpes simplex virus type 1; geldanamycin topical eye drops was initiated 24 h after the infection and maintained for 12 consecutive days. Four groups of rabbits received 5 µg/mL geldanamycin, 10 µg/mL geldanamycin, 0.1% acyclovir and escipient (a kind of artificial tears), respectively. The severity of herpes simplex virus type 1 epithelial keratitis was measured by slit‐lamp and scored for statistics analysis. The virus shedding in eye swabs was isolated, and tissue culture infective dose (TCID 50 ) was determined. Results: Geldanamycin (10 µg/mL) treatment reduced significantly the severity of herpes simplex virus type 1 epithelial keratitis than the other three groups. Geldanamycin (5 µg/mL) was as effective as acyclovir (0.1%) treatment. The effect of geldanamycin against herpes simplex virus type 1 epithelial keratitis correlated with accelerated clearance of virus of the rabbits. Conclusion: Geldanamycin is a promising treatment option against herpes simplex virus type 1 epithelial keratitis. Geldanamycin (10 µg/mL) is better than acyclovir and geldanamycin (5 µg/mL) in the rabbit model. The optimal concentration of this drug in human is still to be determined.