Abstract
Purpose :
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) is the leading cause of Dry Eye Disease (DED). Reduced secretion of lipids due to MGD leads to instability of the tear film and drying of the ocular surface. Meibomian glands share strong similarities with sebocytes in terms of their embryologic development, structure and holocrinic mode of lipid secretion. Treatment of seborrheic dermatitis and Dandruff using Selenium disulfide (SeS2) shampoo results in about 30% of treated patients complaining of excessive oil on their sculp and sebometer testing indicated increased amount of of sebum over the skin following treatment with SeS2 shampoo . The objective of this work was to test the hypothesize that SeS2 can directly induce lipid production in glands producing cells such as meibocytes and sebocytes.
Methods :
The ability of SeS2 to enhance lipid secretion was evaluated in a 3-D cultures of human sebocytes (human cell line SEBO662; BioAlternative, France). First, using a 2-D Sebocyte model, SeS2 concentration range which did not induce apoptosis of the immortalized sebocyte cell line was determined. Following that, the lipogenic effect was tested in the 3-D culture treated with two Selenium disulfide concentrations and a carrier control. The treated cultures were incubated for 14 days. Oil-red-O stained tissue sections were evaluated to determine lipid production based on the extent of lipid accumulation which was quantified by calculating the lipid droplet surface area in the samples.
Results :
When compared to control, lipid production was shown to be significantly increased by 282% (P<0.05) with 0.01 µM and by 348% (P<0.05) with 0.1 µM SeS2.
Conclusions :
Through their lipid secretion the Meibomian glands play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy ocular surface and its optical quality. Located in the upper and lower eyelids, these oil-producing glands are modified sebaceous glands and are responsible for secreting the lipid layer (meibum) that forms the outermost layer of the tear film. The in-vitro results suggest that Selenium disulfide has the potential to improve Meibomian Glands’ function by increasing their lipid production. Such outcome may have significant therapeutic effects in patients with MGD
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.