title: Therapeutic dosing of fingolimod (FTY720) prevents cell infiltration, rapidly suppresses ocular inflammation, and maintains the blood-ocular barrier.
abstract: Fingolimod (FTY720) is an FDA-approved therapeutic drug with efficacy demonstrated in experimental models of multiple sclerosis and in phase III human multiple sclerosis trials. Fingolimod prevents T-cell migration to inflammatory sites by decreasing expression of the sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor normally required for egress from secondary lymphoid tissue. As a preclinical model of human uveitis, experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis permits assessment of immunotherapeutic efficacy. Murine experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis is induced by activation of retinal antigen-specific CD4(+) T cells that infiltrate the eye. High-dose fingolimod treatment administered before disease onset reduces ocular infiltration within hours of administration and suppresses clinicopathologic expression of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis. In the present investigation of the efficacy of fingolimod treatment for established disease, single-dose treatment was effective and immunosuppressive ability was maintained through a dose range, demonstrating significant and rapid reduction in CD4(+) cell infiltration at clinically relevant therapeutic doses of fingolimod. A repeated-treatment regimen using a dose similar to that in current multiple sclerosis patient protocols significantly reduced infiltration within 24 hours of administration; importantly, repeated doses did not compromise the vascular integrity of the blood-ocular barrier. On withdrawal of fingolimod, drug-induced remission was lost and recrudescence of clinical disease was observed. These results support a strong therapeutic potential for fingolimod as an acute rescue therapy for the treatment of ocular immune-mediated inflammation.
authors: Unit of Ophthalmology, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Copland
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Lauren P
authors: LP
authors: Schewitz-Bowers
authors: Volker
authors: V
authors: Brinkmann
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Anderson
authors: Lindsay B
authors: LB
authors: Nicholson
authors: Andrew D
authors: AD
authors: Dick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001813:Blood-Retinal Barrier / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology; D010539:Permeability; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012173:Retinitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D013110:Sphingosine