title: Efficacy of early systemic betamethasone or cyclosporin A after corneal alkali injury via inflammatory cytokine reduction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of early systemic administration of betamethasone or cyclosporin A (CsA) on inflammatory cytokine expression and corneal damage after alkali injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five Wistar rat corneas injured with 1N NaOH were divided into three groups: untreated, betamethasone-treated and CsA-treated. Both agents were administered systemically and daily during the first 7 days after injury. Interleukin (IL)-1alpha, -6 and -8 concentrations in the injured corneas were measured with ELISA at 2, 4 and 7 days after injury. Corneal damage was evaluated by scoring clinical findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In untreated injured corneas, IL-1alpha, -6 and -8 were markedly elevated during the 7-day period following injury. Both betamethasone and CsA significantly suppressed IL-1alpha and IL-8 at day 4. Only betamethasone significantly suppressed IL-6 at days 4 and 7. Both agents significantly reduced corneal opacity at day 4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early systemic administration of betamethasone or CsA after alkali injury may be of benefit by suppressing inflammatory cytokine expression in the cornea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan. seika@yacht.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Seika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Den
authors.forename: Chie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sotozono
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Tsunehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007378:Interleukins; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D016572:Cyclosporine; D001623:Betamethasone