Substance P delays apoptosis, enhancing keratitis after Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.

Purpose: Apoptosis was examined after Pseudomonas aeruginosa corneal infection in C57BL/6 (B6, susceptible) and BALB/c (resistant) mice.

Methods: TUNEL staining, real-time RT-PCR, polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and macrophage (Mphi) depletion, and immunostaining were used.

Results: Intense TUNEL staining was seen in BALB/c versus B6 cornea at 1 versus 3 days after infection (PI) and correlated with mRNA levels for caspase-3.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide balances pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected cornea and protects against corneal perforation.

Corneal infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa perforates the cornea in susceptible C57BL/6 (B6), but not resistant BALB/c, mice. To determine whether vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) played a role in development of the resistant response, protein expression levels were tested by immunocytochemistry and enzyme immunoassay in BALB/c and B6 corneas. Both mouse strains showed constitutive expression of corneal VIP protein and nerve fiber distribution.

Development of a new extended-wear contact lens model in the rat.

Purpose: To develop a rat model to experimentally monitor the potential inflammatory effects of soft contact lens (CL) usage on the cornea during extended wear (EW).

Methods: Lewis rats were fitted with EW lotrafilcon A (CIBA Vision, Duluth, GA) hydrogel lenses (Dk/t 175 barrers/cm) in the left eye, the right eye serving as a control. After 12 days (n = 5 rats) and 30 days (n = 8 rats) of continuous extended wear, corneas were removed and total RNA was extracted from both CL-wearing and non-lens-wearing eyes.

Thymosin beta 4 promotes corneal wound healing and decreases inflammation in vivo following alkali injury.

Previously, thymosin beta 4 (Tbeta(4)) was found to promote wound healing in full thickness skin wounds and heptanol debrided corneas. Here, the effect of Tbeta(4) was examined treatment on corneal wound healing and inflammation in vivo after alkali injury, a more severe wound of the eye. Corneas from 129 Sv mice were chemically burned with a 2 mm disc soaked in 1 N NaOH for 30 sec.