Effect of topical azithromycin on corneal innate immune responses.
PURPOSE: To determine the effect of azithromycin (AZM) in a murine model of corneal inflammation. METHODS: The effect of topical AZM was studied in murine corneal inflammation. Corneal inflammation was induced by thermal cautery in BALB/c mice. Leukocyte infiltration at different time points was analyzed by flow cytometry. At set time points, real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to quantify the expression of different inflammatory cytokine transcript in the cornea. Corneal samples were analyzed immunohistochemically for the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Corneal neovascularization (CNV) was induced by micropellet (VEGF-A) placement. Mice were then treated topically with either AZM or vehicle. CNV was evaluated morphometrically. RESULTS: Eyes receiving AZM showed a significant decrease in corneal infiltration compared with the vehicle-treated group. AZM also significantly decreased messenger RNA expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and ICAM-1 in the cornea. There was no significant difference in CNV between the AZM- and vehicle-treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: After an inflammatory insult, topical AZM significantly reduced leukocyte infiltration into the cornea. This was further supported by an associated decrease in expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, and ICAM-1 in the cornea, indicating AZM may have a potential anti-inflammatory effect on corneal inflammation.
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Related Subject Headings
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- RNA, Messenger
- Ophthalmology & Optometry
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice
- Male
- Leukocytes
- Keratitis
- Interleukin-1beta
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- RNA, Messenger
- Ophthalmology & Optometry
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice
- Male
- Leukocytes
- Keratitis
- Interleukin-1beta