International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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15 pages, 5187 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy of Artificial Tears Based on an Extract of Artemia salina Containing Dinucleotides in a Rabbit Dry Eye Model

by Carlos Carpena-Torres, Jesus Pintor, Fernando Huete-Toral, Alba Martin-Gil, Candela Rodríguez-Pomar, Alejandro Martínez-Águila and Gonzalo Carracedo

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(21), 11999; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222111999 - 05 Nov 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2316

Abstract

(1) Background: Artemia salina is a brine shrimp containing high concentrations of dinucleotides, molecules with properties for dry eye treatment. For this reason, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of the artificial tears based on an extract of Artemia [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Artemia salina is a brine shrimp containing high concentrations of dinucleotides, molecules with properties for dry eye treatment. For this reason, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of the artificial tears based on an extract of Artemia salina in a rabbit dry eye model. (2) Methods: A prospective and randomized study was carried out. Twenty rabbits were divided into 4 groups (n = 5, each group): healthy rabbits, dry eye rabbits, dry eye rabbits treated with hypromellose (HPMC), and dry eye rabbits treated with Artemia salina. Dry eye was induced by the topical instillation of 0.2% benzalkonium chloride. The measurements were performed before and after the treatment for 5 consecutive days. (3) Results: The topical instillation of artificial tears containing Artemia salina showed beneficial effects on tear secretion, tear break-up time, corneal staining, the density of Goblet cells, heigh of mucin cloud secreted by these cells, and mRNA levels of IL-1β and MMP9 in conjunctival cells. Compared with the HPMC, there was a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) with the Artemia salina in all the variables under study, except for the conjunctival hyperemia, density of Goblet cells, and mRNA levels of IL-6. (4) Conclusions: The potential of artificial tears based on Artemia salina as a secretagogue agent for dry eye treatment was confirmed, opening the door for future clinical trials and studies to extrapolate the findings for dry eye patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dry Eye Disease–Focus on Drug Discovery and Development)

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Review

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16 pages, 17374 KiB

Open AccessReview

Artificial Tears: Biological Role of Their Ingredients in the Management of Dry Eye Disease

by Marc Labetoulle, Jose Manuel Benitez-del-Castillo, Stefano Barabino, Rocio Herrero Vanrell, Philippe Daull, Jean-Sebastien Garrigue and Maurizio Rolando

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(5), 2434; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23052434 - 23 Feb 2022

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 8758

Abstract

Dry eye disease (DED) is the most common ocular surface disease, characterized by insufficient production and/or instability of the tear film. Tear substitutes are usually the first line of treatment for patients with DED. Despite the large variety of tear substitutes available on [...] Read more.

Dry eye disease (DED) is the most common ocular surface disease, characterized by insufficient production and/or instability of the tear film. Tear substitutes are usually the first line of treatment for patients with DED. Despite the large variety of tear substitutes available on the market, few studies have been performed to compare their performance. There is a need to better understand the specific mechanical and pharmacological roles of each ingredient composing the different formulations. In this review, we describe the main categories of ingredients composing tear substitutes (e.g., viscosity-enhancing agents, electrolytes, osmo-protectants, antioxidants, lipids, surfactants and preservatives) as well as their effects on the ocular surface, and we provide insight into how certain components of tear substitutes may promote corneal wound healing, and/or counteract inflammation. Based on these considerations, we propose an approach to select the most appropriate tear substitute formulations according to the predominant etiological causes of DED. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dry Eye Disease–Focus on Drug Discovery and Development)

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14 pages, 531 KiB

Open AccessReview

Potential Therapeutic Role of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide for Dry Eye Disease

by Takahiro Hirabayashi, Junko Shibato, Ai Kimura, Michio Yamashita, Fumiko Takenoya and Seiji Shioda

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(2), 664; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23020664 - 08 Jan 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2165

Abstract

Dry eye disease (DED) is caused by a reduction in the volume or quality of tears. The prevalence of DED is estimated to be 100 million in the developed world. As aging is a risk factor for DED, the prevalence of DED is [...] Read more.

Dry eye disease (DED) is caused by a reduction in the volume or quality of tears. The prevalence of DED is estimated to be 100 million in the developed world. As aging is a risk factor for DED, the prevalence of DED is expected to grow at a rapid pace in aging populations, thus creating an increased need for new therapies. This review summarizes DED medications currently in clinical use. Most current medications for DED focus on stimulating tear secretion, mucin secretion, or suppressing inflammation, rather than simply replenishing the ocular surface with moisture to improve symptoms. We recently reported that the neuropeptide PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) induces tear secretion and suppresses corneal injury caused by a reduction in tears. Moreover, it has been reported that a PACAP in water and a 0.9% saline solution at +4 °C showed high stability and achieved 80–90% effectiveness after 2 weeks of treatment. These results reveal PACAP as a candidate DED medication. Further research on the clinical applications of PACAP in DED is necessary. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dry Eye Disease–Focus on Drug Discovery and Development)

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