Thymosin Beta-4 and Ciprofloxacin Adjunctive Therapy Improves

Authors

Thomas W Carion
Abdul Shukkur Ebrahim
David Kracht
Aditya Agrawal
Eliisa Strand
Omar Kaddurah
Cody R McWhirter
Gabriel Sosne
Elizabeth A Berger

Publication/Presentation Date

9-20-2018

Abstract

With increasing multidrug resistance and contraindication for corticosteroid use, the goal of this study was to develop thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4) as an adjunctive therapy to antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial keratitis that effectively promotes enhanced wound healing, host defense, and inflammation resolution. Disease outcome was assessed by clinical score, slit lamp photography, and histopathology. Cytokine profile, bacterial load, PMN infiltration, and Griess and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were determined. Adjunct Tβ4 treatment resulted in a significant improvement compared to PBS, Tβ4, and most remarkably, ciprofloxacin, correlating with changes in mediators of inflammation and wound healing. Collectively, these data provide evidence that wound healing is an essential aspect in the development of new therapies to treat corneal infection. Use of adjunctive Tβ4 provides a more efficacious approach for bacterial keratitis by addressing both the infectious pathogen and deleterious host response.

Volume

7

Issue

10

ISSN

2073-4409

Published In/Presented At

Carion, T. W., Ebrahim, A. S., Kracht, D., Agrawal, A., Strand, E., Kaddurah, O., McWhirter, C. R., Sosne, G., & Berger, E. A. (2018). Thymosin Beta-4 and Ciprofloxacin Adjunctive Therapy Improves Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Induced Keratitis. Cells, 7(10), 145. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells7100145

Disciplines

Medical Education | Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

30241380

Department(s)

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

Document Type

Article