title: Topical tacrolimus for the management of acute allergic conjunctivitis in a mouse model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute allergic conjunctivitis is a constantly challenging condition that often requires steroids for effective management. Alternative treatment options are needed due to the potential side effects of steroids. Tacrolimus has been used for vernal/atopic conjunctivitis. The aim of our study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of topical administration of 0.03 % tacrolimus (eye drops or ointment) in comparison to 0.1 % dexamethasone in a mouse model of acute allergic conjunctivitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  BALB/c mice were sensitized by an intraperitoneal injection of 10 μg/0.2 ml ovalbumin (OVA) absorbed on ALUM (2.0 mg) on days 1 and 8. They were challenged by topical instillation of 2 μl of 15 % OVA (absorbed in 10 % glycerol) twice daily, on days 15-21. Treatment was administered twice daily on days 17-21. Mice were randomly assigned topical treatment groups: Group 1, 0.1 % dexamethasone drops; Group 2, 0.03 % tacrolimus drops; Group 3, 0.03 % tacrolimus ointment; Group 4 PBS drops (control). On day 22 all mice underwent clinical evaluation, blood sampling for IgE levels, and conjunctivas were removed for eosinophil counting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IgE and OVA-specific IgE levels were similar among all groups, demonstrating induction of allergic reaction in all mice. Significantly lower clinical scores were found among all treated groups as compared to controls (P < 0.001), while no significant difference was found among the three treatment groups (P > 0.05). Conjunctival eosinophil counts were significantly lower in Group 1 (P < 0.05) as compared to the other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical efficacy of topical 0.03 % tacrolimus was similar to 0.1 % dexamethasone for acute allergic conjunctivitis.
authors.affiliation: Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, 52621, Israel. ibarequet@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Irina S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Barequet
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Platner
authors.forename: Kobi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sade
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Etkin
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ziv
authors.forename: Mordechai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosner
authors.forename: Zohar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Habot-Wilner
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D051379:Mice; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D003907:Dexamethasone; D010047:Ovalbumin; D016559:Tacrolimus
references.citation: Jpn J Ophthalmol. 2005 May-Jun;49(3):205-10
references.pmid: 15944824
references.citation: J Biol Chem. 1995 Sep 22;270(38):22602-7
references.pmid: 7545680
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1988 Sep;82(3 Pt 1):462-9
references.pmid: 3170994
references.citation: J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2010 Apr;26(2):165-74
references.pmid: 20307214
references.citation: J Leukoc Biol. 2009 Jan;85(1):117-23
references.pmid: 18840671
references.citation: Arch Dermatol. 1999 May;135(5):574-80
references.pmid: 10328199
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 2001 Jan 4;344(1):30-7
references.pmid: 11136958
references.citation: J Indian Med Assoc. 2011 Oct;109(10):708-10, 712-3
references.pmid: 22482314
references.citation: Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2012 Jun;12(3):232-9
references.pmid: 22382607
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005 Jan;115(1):118-22
references.pmid: 15637556
references.citation: Cell. 1991 Aug 23;66(4):807-15
references.pmid: 1715244
references.citation: Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009 Oct;9(5):477-81
references.pmid: 19620858
references.citation: Eye (Lond). 2007 Jul;21(7):968-75
references.pmid: 16680103
references.citation: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2009 Apr;23(4):489-90
references.pmid: 18721214
references.citation: Curr Eye Res. 2008 Jul;33(7):545-9
references.pmid: 18600486
references.citation: Eye (Lond). 2011 Jul;25(7):872-80
references.pmid: 21475312
references.citation: Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1994 Jul 15;202(1):437-43
references.pmid: 7518678
references.citation: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004 Feb;113(2):355-8
references.pmid: 14767456
references.citation: Nature. 1989 Oct 26;341(6244):755-7
references.pmid: 2477714
references.citation: Nature. 1989 Oct 26;341(6244):758-60
references.pmid: 2477715
references.citation: Am J Ophthalmol. 2003 Mar;135(3):297-302
references.pmid: 12614745
references.citation: Acta Ophthalmol Scand. 2006 Oct;84(5):693-5
references.pmid: 16965503