Abstract
Purpose: :
Adiponectin, one of adipokines which are produced by adipose tissues, has anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic, anticarcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties including inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, and interferon (INF)-gamma expression. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of topical adiponectin in a mouse model of experimental dry eye.
Methods: :
Experimental dry eye was induced in C57BL/6 mice, without or with topical treatment consisting of balanced salt solution (BSS), 0.001%, 0.01%, or adiponectin solutions. Tear volume and corneal smoothness were measured at 5 and 10 days after treatment. Levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, CXCL9, and CXCL10 in the conjunctiva were measured using multiplex immunobead assay at 10 days after treatment. PAS staining, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry were also performed at 10 days after treatment.
Results: :
Mice treated with 0.001% or 0.01% adiponectin showed a significant improvement in tear volume and corneal smoothness. The 0.001% and 0.01% adiponectin-treated groups showed decreased levels of conjunctival cytokines and chemokines and a decreased staining intensity of TNF-alpah and IL-6 compared with the untreated or BSS-treated group. The density of conjunctival goblet cells was higher and the number of CD4+CXCR3+ cells was lower in the adiponectin-treated groups than the untreated or BSS-treated group.
Conclusions: :
Topical application of adiponectin with 0.001% and 0.01% concentrations can improve tear production and ocular surface irregularity, decrease inflammatory cytokines and cells on the ocular surface, and increase conjunctival goblet cell density in dry eye.
Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye