Abstract
Purpose :
Sodium thiosulphate (STS) have been shown to reduce the expression of molecules associated to inflammation in corneal endothelium caused by systemic Lipopolysaccharide administration in mice. Consequently, STS could be employed as an adjuvant anti-inflammatory therapy for several pathological conditions associated with inflammation in the eye. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of STS on a Dry Eye Disease (DED) experimental model on young C57BL/6J mice.
Methods :
Chronic DED was induced by exposing C57BL/6 mice to desiccating stress using a controlled environment chamber for 12 days.
Animals
Young (2-month-old) female C57BL/6J mice were maintained on a 12h light/dark cycle in a temperature controlled room. Animal handling was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, which adheres to the national law and NIH rules.
Experimental design
Twelve mice (three mice per group) were used in each experiment in three experimental conditions: Saline (SSB) only group without desiccating stress (control), desiccating stress without vehicle, vehicle+desiccating stress and vehicle+desiccating stress+STS(750mg/kg). Three independent experiments were performed.
Double immunofluorescence assays
Eye tissue obtained from both eyes of each mice was postfixed in paraformaldehyde 4% during 24 hr and embedded in paraffine (Mc Cormick, St. Louis, MO, USA). 10 μm thick corneal sections were cut using a microtome (American Optical) and mounted on slides. Corneal slices from each group were processed and stored until use for immunohistochemistry for IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-alpha, GFAP and TSPO.
Data were analyzed using ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey’s test for multiple comparisons. Differences between groups were considered statistically significant when P < 0.05. Analyses were performed with Prism GraphPad Software v.6
Results :
STS reduced corneal levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, TNF-alpha, Glial acidic fibrillary protein (GFAP) and 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) in corneal epithelium in DED experimental model.
Conclusions :
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the corneal anti-inflammatory effect of STS in a Dry Eye Disease experimental model on young C57BL/6J mice. Our results suggest the potential new use for STS, an already approved drug for human use.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.