Implementation of in vivo models to identify potential candidates for treatment of Dry Eye Disease

This research project focuses on dry eye disease (DED) which is a multifactorial disease of the tears and ocular surface that results in symptoms of discomfort, visual disturbance, and tear film instability. It is accompanied by increased osmolarity of the tear film and inflammation of the ocular surface. DED can be divided into tear-deficient and evaporative types. Evaporative dry eye can be divided into Meibomian gland disease (MGD) and exposure-related dry eye. MGD is the most common cause of evaporative DED and it is defined as "a chronic, diffuse abnormality of the Meibomian glands, commonly characterized by terminal duct obstruction and/or qualitative/quantitative changes in the glandular secretion". Research on the MGD is a priority. An appropriate animal model is an essential tool for translational research with the final goal to find better treatments for DED. This project is a continuation of the MSCA-ITN IT-DED3 project. One of the biggest challenges is to evaluate the cytokine profile in a low amount of rat tear fluids. Preliminary results with a customized multiplex (3plex) Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) are promising and the assay will be further optimized and validated. The evaporative dry eye animal model will be further optimized based on the previous results. To minimize the number of animal experiments, a cell culture model in which DED is induced through the use of hyperosmolar stress is also under development and focuses on monocytes and corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells. This will allow us to test the most promising anti-inflammatory compounds for their antioxidant activity in a cellular model.

Keywords:EYE DISEASES

Disciplines:Ophthalmology