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Published on: June 7, 2017
Effects of Exogenous Relaxin on Dry Eye in an Experimental Sjögren's disease (SS) Mouse Model
Lucimeire N Carvalho1, Taís H Wakamatsu1, Cristiane D Gil2
1Advanced Center of Ocular Surface (CASO), Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at Escola Paulista de Medicina, of Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
Purpose:
To evaluate the potential of exogenous relaxin (RLX) as a treatment for dry eye disease (DED) in an experimental animal model of Sjögren's disease (SS).
Methods:
Nonobese diabetic female (NOD) mice with SS-associated DED received RLX-based or vehicle eye drops (100ng/mL) four times daily for 30 days. Clinical evaluations included measurements of tear production, assessment of keratitis, and histological analysis of the exorbital lacrimal gland. Inflammatory cytokine expression was measured using PCR.
Results:
RLX-treated mice showed significant improvement in tear production and keratitis reversal. Qualitative histological analysis suggested better preservation of lacrimal gland architecture, with more evident acinar and ductal structures in the RLX-treated group. PCR analysis demonstrated reduced inflammatory cytokine expression (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12a, IL-17a, TNFα, and IFNγ), and increased expression of RLX and its receptor RXFP1 in the RLX-treated group CONCLUSIONS: Exogenous relaxin shows therapeutic potential for DED in SS, demonstrated by clinical improvements and reduced inflammatory markers in an animal model of SS.
