Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor Peptide 29-Mer Contributes With Corneal Nerve Regeneration
Published 2025 - 43rd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PP06.12 | Type: Poster | DOI: 10.82333/83rb-x120
Authors: Shu-I Yeh* 1 , Huey-Chuan Cheng 1 , Yeou-Ping Tsao 1
1Ophthalmology,Mackay Memorial Hospital,Taipei,Taiwan, Province of China
Purpose
To investigate the potential of a pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) peptide 29-mer (29-mer) to promote nerve regeneration in a rabbit corneal nerve injury model to demonstrate its neurotrophic ability in cultivated mouse trigeminal neuron cells.
Setting
Supported by previous studies that PEDF has neurotrophic, neuroprotective, and mitogenic effects in several types of neural and neuro-progenitor cells of adult mammals, we hypothesized that PEDF might also play a role in corneal nerve regeneration after injury. We investigated the effect of intrastromal injection of 44-mer on corneal nerve regeneration in a rabbit model of corneal nerve injury and its efficacy and safety in promoting corneal nerve regeneration.
Methods
Subconjunctival or intrastromal injection of 29-mer on the cornea was performed in a rabbit model of corneal nerve injury created by corneal epithelial debridement. Immunocytochemical analysis (29-mer, anti-tubulin III, SMI312, CD11b, a-SMA) and in vivo confocal microscopy were performed. Corneal sensation was estimated using a Cochet-Bonnet corneal esthesiometer. Primary cultivated mouse trigeminal neurons were used to examine the in vitro neurotrophic ability of 29-mer. The cellular morphology and the immunocytochemical staining with anti-tubulin III and SMI312 in different concentrations of 44-mer were compared, and a quantitative assessment of neurite outgrowth was performed.
Results
Immunohistochemical staining showed the retention of 29-mer in the corneal stroma for at least seven days after a single dose of corneal intrastromal injection and promoted corneal nerve regeneration revealed by in vivo confocal microscopy. Corneal esthesiometer demonstrated gradual recovery of the corneal sensation in 29-mer-treated eyes with a lower corneal touch threshold than wounded vehicles and closer to baseline at three weeks after corneal injury (p < 0.001). In vitro studies showed a dose-dependent neurotrophic effect of 29-mer in cultivated trigeminal neuron cells.
Conclusions