Centre for Ophthalmology, Clinical Research University Eye Hospital Tübingen, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 7, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Apr 20;23(9):4567. doi: 10.3390/ijms23094567.
Dry eye is a multifactorial disease that affects the ocular surface and tear fluid. Current treatment options include lubricant eye drop application several times a day. However, these eye drops often cause local side effects like ocular allergies or blurred vision after the application. To test new treatment options, a robust dry eye model is needed. Here, a porcine ex vivo model was established by means of incubation of porcine corneas in low humidity (LH) and characterized by histological damage evaluation, epithelial thickness and by relevant dry eye markers, such as interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), occludin and galectin-3. In the dry eye model proposed, an increased secretion of IL-1β was observed, as well as an upregulation of , and mRNA expression. Moreover, the model presented a higher rate of cell death in comparison to the controls. These effects could be reversed with successful treatment of dexamethasone (dexa) and partially reversed with hyaluronic acid (HA) containing eye drops. Furthermore, medium-molecular-weight HA stimulated an increase in IL-1β in the model proposed. In conclusion, this dry eye model mimics the in vivo condition and hence allows for animal-free testing of novel dry eye treatments.
干眼症是一种多因素疾病，影响眼表面和泪液。目前的治疗选择包括每天多次滴用润眼液。然而，这些眼药水在使用后常常会引起局部副作用，如眼部过敏或视力模糊。为了测试新的治疗方案，需要建立一个稳健的干眼症模型。在这里，通过将猪角膜在低湿度（LH）下孵育，建立了一种猪离体模型，并通过组织学损伤评估、上皮厚度和相关干眼症标志物，如白细胞介素 1β（IL-1β）、核因子 kappa 轻链增强子的活化 B 细胞（NF-κB）、occludin 和半乳糖凝集素-3，对其进行了表征。在所提出的干眼症模型中，观察到 IL-1β的分泌增加，以及 、 和 mRNA 表达的上调。此外，与对照组相比，该模型的细胞死亡率更高。这些影响可以通过成功的地塞米松（dexa）治疗得到逆转，部分可以通过含有透明质酸（HA）的眼药水逆转。此外，中分子量的 HA 刺激模型中 IL-1β 的增加。总之，该干眼症模型模拟了体内情况，因此允许对新型干眼症治疗方法进行无动物测试。
