title: Topical apolipoprotein A-1 may have a beneficial effect on the corneal epithelium in a mouse model of dry eye: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dry-eye syndrome affects millions of individuals and it is essential to develop effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of this complex condition. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of apolipoprotein A (ApoA)-1 and its synergistic action with d-pantethine (DP) on corneal epithelial disorders in dry-eye mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aqueous tear production of C57BL/6J Jms Slc male mice aged 10 to 12 weeks were inhibited by subcutaneous scopolamine injection and mice were placed in a continuous airflow blower to create desiccating environmental stress. During desiccation, 1 eye of each mouse was treated with ApoA-1 (0.01%, 0.04%, or 0.1%) or ApoA-1 (0.04%) + DP (0.05%, 0.1%, or 0.2%) and the other control eye was instilled with phosphate-buffered saline 4 times daily for 5 days. Phenol red thread test, corneal fluorescein staining (score, 0-4), and measurement of corneal epithelial thickness measurements were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant reductions of staining scores and higher corneal epithelial thickness values were observed in both ApoA-1- and ApoA-1 + DP-treated groups compared with untreated dry-eye mouse and phosphate-buffered saline-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that ApoA-1 and DP may be potential therapeutic agents for ocular surface epithelial disorders in patients with dry eye.
authors.affiliation: Menicon Co, Ltd, Global Business division, Japan. a-k-nyunt@menicon-net.co.jp
authors.forename: Aung Kyaw
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Nyunt
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shoichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimada
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010204:Pantetheine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010204:Pantetheine; C005425:pantethine