title: Topical omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for treatment of dry eye.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the efficacy of topical application of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA) for dry eye treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Formulations containing ALA, LA, combined ALA and LA, or vehicle alone, were applied to dry eyes induced in mice. Corneal fluorescein staining and the number and maturation of corneal CD11b(+) cells were determined by a masked observer in the different treatment groups. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify expression of inflammatory cytokines in the cornea and conjunctiva.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dry eye induction significantly increased corneal fluorescein staining; CD11b(+) cell number and major histocompatibility complex Class II expression; corneal IL-1alpha and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) expression; and conjunctival IL-1alpha, TNF-alpha, interferon gamma, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 expression. Treatment with ALA significantly decreased corneal fluorescein staining compared with both vehicle and untreated controls. Additionally, ALA treatment was associated with a significant decrease in CD11b(+) cell number, expression of corneal IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha, and conjunctival TNF-alpha.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical ALA treatment led to a significant decrease in dry eye signs and inflammatory changes at both cellular and molecular levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical application of ALA omega-3 fatty acid may be a novel therapy to treat the clinical signs and inflammatory changes accompanying dry eye syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Schepens Eye Research Institute, 20 Staniford St, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Saadia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.forename: Yiping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ecoiffier
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barabino
authors.forename: Debra A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Schaumberg
authors.forename: M Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Dana
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000378:metabolism; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D039481:CD11b Antigen; D016207:Cytokines; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D019793:Fluorescein