title: Effects of intravitreal injection of tacrolimus (FK506) in experimental uveitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the immunosuppressive and neuroprotective effects of intravitreal injection of tacrolimus in experimental uveitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tacrolimus (40 microg) was injected intravitreally in rabbits to examine safety. Experimental uveitis was induced in rabbits by systemic immunization with bovine serum albumin (BSA) followed by intravitreal challenge with BSA. On day 1 after BSA challenge, tacrolimus (20 or 40 microg) or betamethasone (400 microg) was injected intravitreally in one eye and balanced salt solution in the contralateral eye. The eyes were evaluated by slit-lamp biomicroscopy, electroretinography, and histopathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No local or systemic adverse reaction was observed in normal rabbits. In experimental uveitis, intravitreal injection of tacrolimus significantly reduced intraocular inflammation in histopathological analysis (p < 0.03). Amplitudes on the electroretinogram were restored (p < 0.01), and retinal thickness was preserved in tacrolimus-treated eyes (p < 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In experimental uveitis, intravitreal injection of tacrolimus effectively suppresses ocular inflammation and preserves retinal architecture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. tom@tokyo-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hokama
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katagiri
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Usui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004596:Electroretinography; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D011817:Rabbits; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D014605:Uveitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D001623:Betamethasone; D016559:Tacrolimus