Topical omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for treatment of dry eye.
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.
Rashid
Saadia
S
Schepens Eye Research Institute, 20 Staniford St, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Jin
Yiping
Y
Ecoiffier
Tatiana
T
Barabino
Stefano
S
Schaumberg
Debra A
DA
Dana
M Reza
MR
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*
D039481:CD11b Antigen; D016207:Cytokines; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D019793:Fluorescein