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Establishment of A Mouse Model of Aqueous Deficiency Dry Eye
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Establishment of A Mouse Model of Aqueous Deficiency Dry Eye

Published on: November 1, 2024

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Caffeine's protective role in dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction: insights from clinical and

Yu-Zhi Li1, Chao Wang1, Xi Peng1

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

International Immunopharmacology
|December 22, 2024
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Caffeine intake may protect the ocular surface by reducing inflammation and apoptosis, offering a potential new treatment for dry eye disease (DED) and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Dry eye disease (DED) and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) are linked to ocular surface inflammation and cell death.
  • Current treatments for DED and MGD have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the therapeutic potential of caffeine on the ocular surface.
  • To examine caffeine's effects on tear inflammatory cytokines, inflammation, and apoptosis in DED and MGD models.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical study comparing participants receiving caffeine versus a control.
  • In vitro experiments using rat meibomian gland epithelial cells (RMGECs) and human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) treated with caffeine and lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
  • In vivo study using apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice fed a caffeine-containing diet.

Main Results:

  • Caffeine consumption led to a healthier ocular surface, reduced tear inflammatory cytokines, and lower DED prevalence in clinical participants.
  • In vitro studies showed caffeine attenuated inflammation and apoptosis in LPS-stimulated RMGECs and HCECs.
  • In vivo studies demonstrated improved meibomian gland and corneal morphology, with reduced inflammation and apoptosis in caffeine-fed mice. Caffeine inactivated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) phosphorylation.

Conclusions:

  • Caffeine exhibits protective effects on the ocular surface.
  • Caffeine presents a novel therapeutic avenue for managing DED and MGD.
Keywords:
ApoptosisCaffeineDry eye diseaseInflammation responseMeibomian gland dysfunction

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