The Cdk5 inhibitor olomoucine promotes corneal debridement wound closure in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of the Cdk5 inhibitor olomoucine on corneal debridement wound healing in vivo.


METHODS
Corneal debridement wounds of 1.5 mm were made on the ocular surface of CD-1 mice. A 20 microl drop of 15 microM olomoucine in 1% DMSO was applied to the wound area immediately after wounding and again after 6 h. Control mice received identical applications of 1% DMSO. Mice were euthanized after 18 h, two weeks, and three weeks for evaluation of wound healing and restratification. Corneas were stained with Richardson's dye, photographed, and processed for histology and immunofluorescence as whole mounts or paraffin sections. The remaining wound area at 18 h was measured by image analysis. Scratch wounded cultures of human corneal-limbal epithelial cells (HCLE) were used to examine the effect of olomoucine on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression in vitro. MMP-2 and MMP-9 were detected by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting.


RESULTS
Olomoucine treatment significantly enhanced corneal wound closure without increasing inflammation or infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes 18 h after wounding (p<0.05). The increased localization of MMP-9 within epithelial cells at the wound edge was further enhanced by olomoucine while the expression of MMP-2 was reduced. Olomoucine treatment of scratch wounded HCLE cells produced similar changes in MMP-9 and MMP-2 expression. The examination of treated corneas two and three weeks after wounding showed normal epithelial restratification with no evidence of inflammation or stromal disorganization.


CONCLUSIONS
Topical application of olomoucine in 1% DMSO significantly enhances closure of small epithelial debridement wounds without increasing inflammation or impairing reepithelialization.
Tripathi
Brajendra K
BK
Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Stepp
Mary A
MA
Gao
Chun Y
CY
Zelenka
Peggy S
PS
D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D051360:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D003646:Debridement; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007701:Kinetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D015820:Cadherins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C090046:olomoucine; D051360:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D007701:Kinetin