title: Thymosin β4 significantly reduces the signs of dryness in a murine controlled adverse environment model of experimental dry eye.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dry eye syndrome is a common condition that affects up to 20% of the population aged 45 and older. There are no successful treatments to date. The goal of this research was to determine the efficacy of various doses and the optimal frequency of thymosin β4 (Tβ4) treatment in a murine severe dry eye model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed using a controlled adverse environment chamber (CAE) in combination with scopolamine to induce moderate to severe dry eye in mice. The study included five mice per group and tested six different doses of Tβ4 twice per day for 12 days. Tβ4 at 0.1% was also administered 2 - 4 times per day for 12 days. Healing was measured by fluorescein staining.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tβ4 significantly reduced the signs of dry eye relative to controls. The treatment effect was more pronounced than the positive controls, doxycycline and Restasis (cyclosporine 0.05%). Active doses of 0.1 and 0.5% were determined, and it was found that the frequency of dosing at 2 times per day was the most effective for healing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tβ4 has the potential to be an important new effective therapeutic for dry eye.
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University School of Medicine, Kresge Eye Clinic , Detroit, MI , USA.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sosne
authors.forename: Chaesik
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hynda K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kleinman
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013947:Thymosin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)
chemical_list: D016572:Cyclosporine; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013947:Thymosin; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)
keywords: controlled adverse environment; cornea; dry eye syndrome; fluorescein staining; signs of dry eye; thymosin β4