Novel Fusion Protein PF-MC Accelerated Corneal Wound Repair and Healing in a Rat Corneal Alkali Injury Model

GALLO, JE; SALICA, JP; GUERRIERI, D; ORTIZ, G; CHULUYAN, E

Denver

Congreso; ARVO Annual Meeting 2015; 2015

Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

Purpose: We have previously demonstrated the anti­inflammatory and antiangiogenic action of the fusion protein (SLPI and Cementoin) on a rat corneal alkali injury model trough the NFkB pathway. In this case we evaluate the effect of the fusion protein on corneal wound repair (re-epithelialization time and degree of corneal opacity) during the acute inflammation process of the same animal model. Methods: The alkali injury was produced with a filter paper of 3 mm with 1 N NaOH during 40 seconds in the right cornea of 18 Sprague­Dowley rats under isoflurane anesthesia. They were treated with 10ul of FP­MC (200mg/ml; n=6), SLPI (200 mg/ml; n=6) or vehicle (n=6) topically, four times a day. Corneal re-epithelialization following alkali burn was studied by fluorescent dye staining of the cornea under cobalt blue light. Digital photographs of the corneas were taken every 6 hours and percentage of ulcerated cornea was calculated using the J-Image Program. Corneal opacity was evaluated with a slit-lamp at day 7 and findings were recorded according to the Classification of Fantes et al. Results: The rate of corneal ulcerated area was significantly lower in PF-MC treated animals compared to that seen in SLPI and buffer treated animals. The first complete epithelialization was found in PF-MC animals at 18 hours postinjury. There was a significant difference in the corneal haze score between the three groups (P=0.013). PF-MC animals had the lowest score. Conclusions: Topical administration of PF-MC accelerated the time of re-epithelialization and reduced the corneal haze after corneal alkali injury in rats.