title: Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors Suppress Laser-Induced Choroidal Neovascularization in Mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) in the laser-induced mouse model of choroidal neovascularization (CNV).
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the NRTIs lamivudine (3TC), zidovudine (AZT), and abacavir (ABC) and the P2X7 antagonist A438079. Choroidal neovascularization was induced by laser injury in C57BL/6J wild-type, Nlrp3-/-, and P2rx7-/- mice, and CNV volume was measured after 7 days by confocal microscopy. Drugs were administered by intravitreous injection immediately after the laser injury. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A in RPE-choroid lysates was measured 3 days after laser injury by ELISA. HEK293 cells expressing human and mouse P2X7 were exposed to the selective P2X7 receptor agonist 2', 3'-(benzoyl-4-benzoyl)-ATP (Bz-ATP) with or without 3TC, and VEGF-A levels in media were measured by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intravitreous injection of 3TC, AZT, and ABC significantly suppressed laser-induced CNV in C57BL/6J wild-type and Nlrp3-/- mice (P < 0.05) but not in P2rx7-/- mice. Intravitreous injection of A438079 also suppressed the laser-induced CNV (P < 0.05). The NRTIs 3TC, AZT, and ABC blocked VEGF-A levels in the RPE/choroid after laser injury in wild-type (P < 0.05) but not P2rx7-/- mice. Moreover, there was no additive effect of 3TC on CNV inhibition when coadministered with a neutralizing VEGF-A antibody. Stimulation of human and mouse P2X7-expressing HEK293 cells with Bz-ATP increased VEGF secretion (P < 0.001), which was abrogated by 3TC (P < 0.001). Stimulation of primary human RPE cells with Bz-ATP increased VEGFA and IL6 mRNA levels, which were abrogated by 3TC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiple clinically relevant NRTIs suppressed laser-induced CNV and downregulated VEGF-A, via P2X7.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizutani
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States.
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States.
authors.forename: Younghee
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States.
authors.forename: Reo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yasuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States 2Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States 3Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Mole.
authors.forename: Bradley D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Gelfand
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States 4Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States.
authors.forename: Jayakrishna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ambati
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors