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Three Strategies to Induce Neurotrophic Keratitis and Nerve Regeneration in Murine Cornea
Published on: December 8, 2023
Corneal innervation as a window to peripheral neuropathies.
Giulio Ferrari1, Nambi Nallasamy, Heather Downs
1Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford St., Boston, MA 02114, USA. giulio.ferrari@schepens.harvard.edu
Experimental Eye Research
|June 18, 2013
Summary
Corneal nerve fiber damage in mice treated with chemotherapy mirrors skin nerve damage. This suggests corneal nerves may serve as a non-invasive biomarker for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Oncology
Background:
- The cornea has dense sensory innervation from small-fiber nociceptive neurons.
- Chemotherapy often causes dose-related sensory polyneuropathy, impacting quality of life.
- Corneal innervation assessment offers a potential non-invasive method for diagnosing neuropathy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare corneal and skin innervation changes in mice receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy.
- To evaluate corneal nerves as a surrogate biomarker for skin nerve damage.
Main Methods:
- Mice (C57/Bl6) were treated with varying doses of paclitaxel.
- Corneal and hindpaw skin biopsies were collected and immunolabeled.
- Innervation density was quantified using microscopy.
Main Results:
- Paclitaxel induced dose-dependent nerve fiber damage in both cornea and skin.
- Corneal and skin nerve damage showed a high correlation (r = 0.66).
Conclusions:
- Quantification of corneal nerves can serve as a surrogate marker for skin peripheral innervation.
- This finding supports the potential use of corneal imaging for diagnosing chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.
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