title: Topical use of rapamycin in herpetic stromal keratitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare the efficacy of rapamycin used topically in a mouse model of herpetic stromal keratitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The corneas were infected with herpes simplex virus type-1 strain KOS. Animals were divided into: control (CG), rapamycin (RAPA), cyclosporine (CsA), and dexamethasone (DEXA). The evolution of the disease was assessed clinically and histologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On day 10 postinfection (pi), the RAPA group showed only a significantly lower angiogenic development than the CG. On day 14 pi, the treated groups had significantly lower scores for angiogenesis and necrosis than the CG. Also, on day 14 pi, the RAPA and DEXA groups showed significantly lower histopathological scores compared to the CG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The topical application of 0.05% rapamycin showed greater efficacy than 0.5% cyclosporine and similar efficacy to 0.1% dexamethasone to minimize the immuno-inflammatory process. Also, rapamycin showed early inhibition of the formation of new vessels.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Investigaciones Oculares, Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. zapatagu@fcv.unlp.edu.ar
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Racca
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tau
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berra
mesh_terms: D060433:Administration, Ophthalmic; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009336:Necrosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D016572:Cyclosporine; D020123:Sirolimus