USF-LVHN SELECT

Topical administration of the kappa opioid receptor agonist nalfurafine suppresses corneal neovascularization and inflammation.

Publication/Presentation Date

4-21-2021

Abstract

Corneal neovascularization (CNV) causes higher-order aberrations, corneal edema, ocular inflammation, and corneal transplant rejection, thereby decreasing visual acuity. In this study, we investigated the effects of topical administration of the kappa opioid receptor agonist nalfurafine (TRK-820) on CNV. To induce CNV, intrastromal corneal sutures were placed on the corneal stroma of BALB/c mice for 2 weeks. Nalfurafine (0.1 µg/2 μL/eye) was topically administered to the cornea once or twice daily after CNV induction. The CNV score, immune cell infiltration, and mRNA levels of angiogenic and pro-inflammatory factors in neovascularized corneas were evaluated using slit-lamp microscopy, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and polymerase chain reaction. The mRNA expression of the kappa opioid receptor gene Oprk1 was significantly upregulated following CNV induction. Topical administration of nalfurafine twice daily significantly suppressed CNV and lymphangiogenesis, as well as reduced the mRNA levels of angiogenic and pro-inflammatory factors in the neovascularized corneas. Moreover, nalfurafine administration twice daily reduced the numbers of infiltrating leukocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, and interferon-γ-producing CD4

Volume

11

Issue

1

First Page

8647

Last Page

8647

ISSN

2045-2322

Disciplines

Medical Education | Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

33883646

Department(s)

USF-LVHN SELECT Program, USF-LVHN SELECT Program Students

Document Type

Article

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