Hyperstable EGF-like bleogen derived from cactus accelerates corneal healing in rats

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Corneal scarring is a leading cause of global vision loss, impairing corneal transparency and visual acuity.
• Epidermal growth factor (EGF) in tears aids corneal repair, but novel therapeutic agents are needed.
• Bleogen pB1, a stable EGFR agonist from *Pereskia bleo*, shows wound healing potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of bleogen pB1 in accelerating corneal wound healing in a rat model.
• To compare the effects of bleogen pB1 with EGF and a saline control.
• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying bleogen pB1's therapeutic action.

Main Methods:

• Acute alkali burns were induced in rat corneas.
• Bleogen pB1, EGF, or saline were administered ophthalmically.
• Corneal healing was assessed via fluorescein staining and opacity scoring.
• Immunohistochemistry identified macrophage and myofibroblast markers.
• RNA-sequencing analyzed gene expression in treated keratinocytes.

Main Results:

• Bleogen pB1 significantly improved corneal healing, reducing opacity and staining compared to saline.
• EGF treatment showed comparable improvements to bleogen pB1.
• Both bleogen pB1 and EGF reduced CD68+ macrophage infiltration and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression.
• Gene expression analysis revealed modulation of inflammatory and extracellular matrix remodeling pathways.

Conclusions:

• Plant-derived bleogen pB1 effectively accelerates corneal wound healing in rats.
• Bleogen pB1 demonstrates therapeutic potential comparable to EGF in reducing corneal inflammation and scarring.
• Bleogen pB1 warrants further investigation as a novel treatment for corneal injuries.