Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate the effect of novel peptide GQDGLAGPK from extracellular matrix (ECM) composite produced by chondrocytes in alkaline burns rabbit.
Methods :
Corneal neovascularization (NV) was induced by 1 N NaOH to the right central corneas of rabbits. Seven days later, GQDGLAGPK were treatment onto the corneal surface to completely eyedrop. On the 10th day after treatment, we investigated the fibrosis, NV, inflammation and structural changes of the cornea. We examined the effects of GQDGLAGPK on clinical NV features and on the expression of corneal NV markers. In addition, we performed western blotting for expression of nuclear transcription factors, MAPKs, Akt, PKC and signaling molecules.
Results :
The alkaline burn produced significant NV and increased corneal thickness. On day 10 after treatment, corneal neovascularization (1.4±0.5) and thickness (876.0±37.0 μm) of the cornea were markedly decreased (p<0.05). However, GQDGLAGPK treatment suppressed the inflammation, fibrosis and NV in the stroma following by alkaline burn. Furthermore, the GQDGLAGPK treatment decreased the expression of angiogenic and inflammatory hallmarks. The GQDGLAGPK suppressed corneal NV by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation through blocking the MAPKs, Akt, PKC signaling pathway.
Conclusions :
We found that collagen type II α1 based peptide sequence GQDGLAGPK was major component from chondrocytes-derived ECM, and it was markedly effective in healing alkali-burned corneas by modulating the corneal opacity, NV, fibrosis and inflammation via blocking the NF-κB.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.