Abstract
Purpose :
Tie2 dysfunction in the conventional outflow pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of congenital glaucoma and post-natal open- angle glaucoma. Vascular endothelial protein tyrosine phosphatase (VE-PTP) is a negative regulator of Tie2 and VE-PTP inhibition activates Tie2 in vascular endothelial cells. The purpose of the present study was to assess the expression of VE-PTP in the conventional outflow pathway and to test the effect of AKB-9778, a potent VE-PTP inhibitor, on intraocular pressure (IOP) and outflow facility after topical ocular administration in normotensive mice.
Methods :
Using mice heterozygous for a nuclear localizing beta galactosidase VE-PTP knock-in allele, X-gal staining and Tie2 immunohistochemistry were employed to assess VE-PTP and Tie2 expression in conventional outflow tissues. Overlapping expression of CD31 and Prox-1 were used to positively identify location of Schlemm’s canal (SC) in confocal microscopic projections. In C57BL6J mice, topical AKB-9778 (40 mg/ml) to one eye or vehicle (to contralateral eye) were administered once daily 4 days. IOP was measured daily prior to dosing, and at 2 and 4 hours post dose on Day 3. Outflow facility was assessed by iPerfusion in a separate group of animals (AKB-9778 to one eye; vehicle to contralateral eye) after three days of topical dosing.
Results :
Confocal microscopy demonstrated co-expression of VE-PTP and Tie2 in SC endothelium and in the endothelium of collector channels originating from SC, but not in the trabecular meshwork. Tie2 appeared in every SC cell, while VE-PTP displayed a heterogeneous distribution. Topically administered AKB-9778 was well tolerated and resulted in significantly reduced pre-dose IOP (p<0.05, n=5) with maximal reduction (~6 mmHg) at 2 hours post-dose on Day 3 of dosing. Outflow facility was significantly increased in AKB-9778-treated versus vehicle-treated eyes (3.4±0.4 vs. 2.53±0.2 nl/min/mmHg, p=0.047, n=9).
Conclusions :
Tie2 and VE-PTP were co-expressed in endothelium of SC and collector channels, and VE-PTP inhibition significantly reduce IOP and enhanced outflow facility in normotensive mice. These findings support evaluation of Tie2 activation by AKB-9778 as the first SC-targeted approach for IOP reduction in patients with open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.