Li Yijing, Zhu Liting, Yuan Zheng, Zhou Chunyang
Ineye Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Chengdu Aidi Eye Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2025 Sep 2;14(9):1. doi: 10.1167/tvst.14.9.1.
To evaluate Periplaneta americana extract (PAE) effects on corneal epithelial healing and fibrosis after superficial lamellar keratectomy (SLK) in rabbits.
SLK was performed on the right eyes of 48 New Zealand White rabbits, randomized into three treatment groups (n = 16/group): normal saline (NS), Tobradex eye drops (TE), and PAE group. Corneal opacity and epithelial defect area were quantified using slit-lamp imaging at postoperative days 3, 7, 14, and 28 (D3, D7, D14, and D28) and scored via the grading system. We performed histopathological analysis to visualize tissue structure and immunohistochemistry (IHC) localize and quantify TGF-β1 protein in corneal tissues.
Significant intergroup differences in corneal epithelial defect area and opacity were observed on D3 and D7 (all P < 0.05). The TE group exhibited the largest epithelial defects but mildest corneal opacity, whereas the PAE group demonstrated the smallest epithelial defects and significantly reduced opacity compared to the NS group (P < 0.05). Time-dependent variations in epithelial defect area were noted across all groups (P < 0.05). The NS and TE groups displayed progressive corneal opacity increases, whereas the opacity of the PAE group peaked at D7 before declining. Histological analysis revealed epithelial detachment, stromal edema, and inflammatory infiltration in all groups, with the TE group showing milder inflammation. TGF-β1 expression levels initially increased followed by a decline in the NS and PAE groups, in contrast to the inverse trend of the TE group. No statistically significant differences in late-phase corneal opacity or TGF-β1 levels were observed between groups (all P > 0.05).
During the early phase after SLK, PAE accelerated corneal tissue regeneration, inhibited corneal scarring, and partially restored corneal clarity. This biphasic regulatory effect may be attributed to promoting TGF-β1 expression in the early stage, followed by its inhibition in the later stages.
PAE modulates TGF-β1 to balance corneal healing and fibrosis as a novel topical corticosteroid alternative, warranting human trials for its dual-phase healing/scarring action.
评估美洲大蠊提取物（PAE）对兔表层角膜切除术（SLK）后角膜上皮愈合和纤维化的影响。
对48只新西兰白兔的右眼进行SLK，随机分为三个治疗组（每组n = 16）：生理盐水（NS）组、妥布霉素滴眼液（TE）组和PAE组。在术后第3、7、14和28天（D3、D7、D14和D28）使用裂隙灯成像对角膜混浊和上皮缺损面积进行定量，并通过分级系统进行评分。我们进行了组织病理学分析以观察组织结构，并通过免疫组织化学（IHC）对角膜组织中的转化生长因子-β1（TGF-β1）蛋白进行定位和定量。
在D3和D7时，观察到角膜上皮缺损面积和混浊程度在组间存在显著差异（所有P < 0.05）。TE组上皮缺损最大，但角膜混浊最轻，而PAE组上皮缺损最小，与NS组相比，混浊程度显著降低（P < 0.05）。所有组均观察到上皮缺损面积随时间的变化（P < 0.05）。NS组和TE组角膜混浊逐渐加重，而PAE组混浊程度在D7时达到峰值，随后下降。组织学分析显示所有组均有上皮脱离、基质水肿和炎症浸润，TE组炎症较轻。NS组和PAE组TGF-β1表达水平最初升高，随后下降，而TE组则呈相反趋势。各组在晚期角膜混浊或TGF-β1水平上无统计学显著差异（所有P > 0.
