Investigative ophthalmology & visual science
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Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. · Feb 2011
Biosynthetic corneal implants for replacement of pathologic corneal tissue: performance in a controlled rabbit alkali burn model.
To evaluate the performance of structurally reinforced, stabilized recombinant human collagen-phosphorylcholine (RHCIII-MPC) hydrogels as corneal substitutes in a rabbit model of severe corneal damage. ⋯ Biosynthetic implants based on RHC promoted cell and nerve repopulation in alkali burned rabbit eyes. In RHCIII-MPC implants, evidence of an enhanced resistance to neovascularization was additionally noted.
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Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. · Feb 2011
Pilot study of optical coherence tomography measurement of retinal blood flow in retinal and optic nerve diseases.
To investigate blood flow changes in retinal and optic nerve diseases with Doppler Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). ⋯ Doppler OCT retinal blood flow measurements showed good repeatability and excellent correlation with visual field and clinical presentations. This approach could enhance our understanding of retinal and optic nerve diseases and facilitate the development of new therapies.
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Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. · Jan 2011
Role of the adrenergic system in a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy: antiangiogenic effects of beta-adrenoreceptor blockade.
Oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) is a model for human retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). In OIR mice, this study determined whether blockade of β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) with propranolol influences retinal levels of proangiogenic factors, retinal vascularization, and blood-retinal barrier (BRB) breakdown. ⋯ This is the first demonstration that β-AR blockade is protective against retinal angiogenesis and ameliorates BRB dysfunction in OIR. Although the relevance of these results to infant ROP is uncertain, the findings may help to establish potential pharmacologic targets based on β3-AR pharmacology.
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Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. · Jan 2011
Doxycycline enhances the inhibitory effects of bevacizumab on corneal neovascularization and prevents its side effects.
To investigate the combination therapeutic effects of topical doxycycline temperature-sensitive hydrogel (DTSH) and bevacizumab on corneal neovascularization (CNV) and corneal wound healing (CWH) and to explore the underlying mechanisms of doxycycline on CNV and CWH. ⋯ Doxycycline enhances the inhibitory effects of bevacizumab on CNV and prevents its side effects on CWH, possibly by inhibiting the expression and activity of MMPs, the expression of VEGF and of phosphorylated VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, and the production of iNOS and IL-1β.
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Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. · Dec 2010
Selective activation of the prostaglandin E2 circuit in chronic injury-induced pathologic angiogenesis.
Cyclooxygenase (COX)-derived prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) is a prevalent and established mediator of inflammation and pain in numerous tissues and diseases. Distribution and expression of the four PGE(2) receptors (EP1-EP4) can dictate whether PGE(2) exerts an anti-inflammatory or a proinflammatory and/or a proangiogenic effect. The role and mechanism of endogenous PGE(2) in the cornea, and the regulation of EP expression during a dynamic and complex inflammatory/reparative response remain to be clearly defined. ⋯ These findings place the corneal PGE(2) circuit as an endogenous mediator of inflammatory neovascularization rather than general inflammation and demonstrate that chronic inflammation selectively regulates this circuit at the level of biosynthetic enzyme and receptor expression.