Abstract
Purpose:
To test whether the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of an aldehyde trap, 2-(3-amino-6-chloroquinolin-2-yl)-propan-2-ol (NS2), reduce corneal haze in a rabbit model of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
Methods:
All of the animals used herein were treated in a manner consistent with the ARVO Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research. New Zealand White Rabbits’ corneas (n=18 eyes per group) were treated with one drop 0.5% NS2 or vehicle bilaterally QID for 3 days prior to surgery. Corneas from both eyes were ablated using an excimer laser with a diameter of 6.0mm and depth of 150μm to simulate a PRK procedure. Following induction of the PRK model, the eyes continued to receive either NS2 or vehicle QID for 5 days post-surgery. The wound closure rate, corneal edema, clinical grading of conjunctival irritation, & the progression of haze formation were then measured and compared at Days 4, 7, 10, & 14.
Results:
There were no significant differences in the closure rate, edema, or conjunctival irritation (chemosis & injection) at any time points. At the onset of haze formation (Day 4) there was no significant difference in haze between the NS2 and vehicle groups. However, on days 7, 10, & 14, corneal haze scores were significantly lower in the NS2-treated group relative to vehicle (p=0.011, p=0.014, & p=0.043). NS2 treatment precluded the treated corneas from reaching levels of haze associated with clinical grades of 3 or 4, whereas about 16% of the vehicle-treated corneas had clinical grades of 3 or 4.
Conclusions:
The aldehyde trap NS2 appears to reduce corneal inflammation in a rabbit model of PRK. Additional analyses are now being conducted to verify the results biochemically and histologically. The data suggest that NS2 has potential to be a novel therapy for PRK and other ocular diseases characterized by inflammation and fibrosis.