Gefarnate stimulates mucin-like glycoprotein secretion in conjunctival tissue and ameliorates corneal epithelial damage in animal dry-eye models

• Published in: Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) Vol. 7; no. default; pp. 211 - 217
• Main Authors: Dota, Atsuyoshi, Takaoka-Shichijo, Yuko, Nakamura, Masatsugu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2013; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Dove Press; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: cat; Cornea; Development and progression; Dosage and administration; Drug therapy; dry eye; Dry eye syndromes; fluorescein staining; gefarnate; Glycoproteins; Ophthalmic drugs; Original Research; Permeability; Physiological aspects; rabbit; rose bengal permeability; Japan; fluorescein staining; rose bengal permeability; dry eye; gefarnate; cat; rabbit
• ISSN: 1177-5467; 1177-5483; 1177-5483
• DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S39061

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gefarnate on mucin-like glycoprotein secretion in isolated rabbit conjunctival tissue, and on corneal epithelial damage in rabbit and cat dry-eye models. Conjunctival tissue isolated from rabbits was treated with gefarnate. Mucin-like glycoprotein was detected in the culture supernatant by an enzyme-linked lectin assay. Gefarnate ointment was topically applied to eyes once daily for 7 days in the rabbit dry-eye model, in which the lacrimal glands, Harderian gland, and nictitating membrane were removed, or for 4 weeks in the cat dry-eye model, in which the lacrimal gland and nictitating membrane were removed. Corneal epithelial damage was evaluated by measurement of corneal permeability by rose bengal in the rabbit model or by fluorescein staining in the cat model. Gefarnate stimulated mucin-like glycoprotein secretion in conjunctival tissue in a dose-dependent manner. In the rabbit dry-eye model, application of gefarnate ointment to the eyes resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in rose bengal permeability in the cornea, with the effect being significant at concentrations of ≥0.3%. In the cat dry-eye model, application of gefarnate ointment resulted in a significant decrease in the corneal fluorescein staining score. These results suggest that gefarnate stimulates in vitro secretion of mucin-like glycoprotein in conjunctival tissue and ameliorates corneal epithelial damage in animal dry-eye models. Gefarnate may therefore be effective for treating dry eye.