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Author Spotlight: Decoding Corneal Neovascularization with Alkali Burn Model for Future Therapeutic Strategies
Published on: June 30, 2023
Cucurbita argyrosperma Seed Extracts Attenuate Angiogenesis in a Corneal Chemical Burn Model
María Fernanda Estrella-Mendoza1, Francisco Jiménez-Gómez2, Adolfo López-Ornelas3
1Laboratorio de Investigacíon de Productos Naturales, Escuela de Ingeniería Química e Industrias Extractivas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional S/N, Ciudad de México 07708, México. fernandaestrella29@hotmail.com.
Abstract:
Severe corneal inflammation produces opacity or even perforation, scarring, and angiogenesis, resulting in blindness. In this study, we used the cornea to examine the effect of new anti-angiogenic chemopreventive agents. We researched the anti-angiogenic effect of two extracts, methanol (Met) and hexane (Hex), from the seed of Cucurbita argyrosperma, on inflamed corneas. The corneas of Wistar rats were alkali-injured and treated intragastrically for seven successive days. We evaluated: opacity score, corneal neovascularization (CNV) area, re-epithelialization percentage, and histological changes. Also, we assessed the inflammatory (cyclooxigenase-2, nuclear factor-kappaB, and interleukin-1β) and angiogenic (vascular endothelial growth factor A, VEGF-A; -receptor 1, VEGFR1; and -receptor 2, VEGFR2) markers. Levels of Cox-2, Il-1β, and Vegf-a mRNA were also determined. After treatment, we observed a reduction in corneal edema, with lower opacity scores and cell infiltration compared to untreated rats. Treatment also accelerated wound healing and decreased the CNV area. The staining of inflammatory and angiogenic factors was significantly decreased and related to a down-expression of Cox-2, Il-1β, and Vegf. These results suggest that intake of C. argyrosperma seed has the potential to attenuate the angiogenesis secondary to inflammation in corneal chemical damage.
Insights
Cucurbita argyrosperma seed extracts reduced corneal inflammation and neovascularization in rats. This suggests potential for treating chemical-induced corneal damage and preventing blindness.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pharmacology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Severe corneal inflammation can lead to opacity, scarring, and angiogenesis, potentially causing blindness.
- Corneal neovascularization (CNV) is a significant complication of inflammatory eye conditions.
- Developing effective chemopreventive agents for corneal inflammation is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects of Cucurbita argyrosperma seed extracts on alkali-injured rat corneas.
- To evaluate the potential of methanol (Met) and hexane (Hex) extracts from C. argyrosperma seeds as therapeutic agents for corneal chemical damage.
Main Methods:
- Wistar rats with alkali-induced corneal injury were treated intragastrically with C. argyrosperma seed extracts for seven days.
- Evaluated parameters included opacity scores, corneal neovascularization (CNV) area, re-epithelialization, and histological changes.
- Assessed inflammatory markers (cyclooxigenase-2, nuclear factor-kappaB, interleukin-1β) and angiogenic markers (VEGF-A, VEGFR1, VEGFR2) at protein and mRNA levels.
Main Results:
- Treatment with C. argyrosperma extracts significantly reduced corneal edema, opacity, and inflammatory cell infiltration.
- Accelerated wound healing and a decreased CNV area were observed in treated rats.
- Down-expression of inflammatory (Cox-2, Il-1β) and angiogenic (Vegf) markers was noted, correlating with reduced staining.
Conclusions:
- Cucurbita argyrosperma seed extracts demonstrate significant anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties in a rat model of corneal chemical injury.
- These findings suggest that C. argyrosperma seed intake holds potential for attenuating angiogenesis secondary to inflammation in corneal damage.
- Further research into C. argyrosperma as a chemopreventive agent for ocular inflammatory diseases is warranted.
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