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Trehalose, anhydrobiosis for the eye
Author(s) -
CHEN W,
LI JY,
ZHANG XB
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2010.462.x
Subject(s) - trehalose , corneal epithelium , cornea , barrier function , apoptosis , desiccation , epithelium , conjunctiva , matrix metalloproteinase , fluorescein , ophthalmology , inflammation , chemistry , pathology , medicine , andrology , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , botany , fluorescence , physics , quantum mechanics
Purpose To determine whether topically applied trehalose could heal ocular surface epithelial disorders caused by ocular surface desiccation. Methods This study used a novel murine model of dry eye induced by continuous controlled low‐humidity air velocity in an intelligently controlled environmental system. the efficacy of 87.6 mM trehalose eyedrops was compared with that of 20% serum, 0.05% CsA and Optive ®. The resultant changes in corneal barrier function, inflammation and histopathologic examination of cornea and conjunctiva were analyzed and the level of apoptosis and MMP‐9 on the ocular surface was assessed. Results After 14 days of treatment, the corneal fluorescein staining area, the ruffling and desquamating cells on the apical corneal epithelium, as well as the apoptotic cells on ocular surface epithelium had significantly reduced in eyes treated with trehalose compared with those treated with serum. Trehalose produces some of the same responses as CsA upon topical application and can maintain corneal health, even though it is more effective on reducing epithelial apoptosis on ocular surface.The CD4‐positive T cells on ocular surface were significantly increased in both trehalose and PBS treated mice compared to baseline and the CsA group.Dryness significantly increased production of MMP‐9 by the corneal epithelium which reduced significantly in eyes treated with trehalose compared with Optive ®. Conclusion Trehalose could improve the altered corneal barrier function caused by desiccation through suppression of apoptosis and Matrix Metalloproteinase‐9. Trehalose produces some of the same responses as serum, 0.05% CsA and Optive ® upon topical application and can maintain corneal health.