Bevacizumab application delays epithelial healing in rabbit cornea

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Cell Biology
• Wound Healing Research

Background:

• Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is crucial for neovascularization.
• Anti-VEGF therapies, like bevacizumab, inhibit neovascularization but may impact epithelial wound healing.
• Understanding these effects is vital for managing ocular conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of bevacizumab on corneal epithelial wound healing time in rabbit models.
• To assess bevacizumab's effects on human corneal epithelial and fibroblast cell proliferation.
• To investigate bevacizumab's influence on integrin and collagen expression.

Main Methods:

• Corneal epithelial defect sizes were measured in rabbits treated with varying concentrations of bevacizumab eye drops.
• Cell proliferation and Ki67 expression were analyzed in human corneal cell cultures after scrape injury.
• Integrin and collagen expression, along with relevant mRNA levels, were quantified using antibody-based assays and RT-PCR.

Main Results:

• Bevacizumab at concentrations of 1.0 mg/mL and higher delayed corneal epithelial healing in rabbits.
• High concentrations of bevacizumab inhibited the proliferation of corneal epithelial and fibroblast cells in vitro.
• A concentration of 1.5 mg/mL bevacizumab reduced the surface expression of mRNA encoding integrins and collagens.

Conclusions:

• Bevacizumab demonstrably delays corneal epithelial wound healing and suppresses integrin expression.
• Clinicians should anticipate potential delays in epithelial healing when using bevacizumab for corneal neovascularization.
• Inhibition of cellular proliferation is an expected outcome of bevacizumab treatment.