Although granular corneal dystrophy is likely to recur after DALK, this technique can restore and preserve useful visual function for a significant period in these patients.

The results provide evidence that intravitreal injection of infliximab suppresses ocular inflammation in a rabbit model of severe endotoxin-induced uveitis.

Background: Recent evidence has suggested a role for toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) in experimental models of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). To date, however, few data exist about TLR3 in human AMD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of TLR3 in human choroidal neovascular (CNV) membranes. Methods: Immunostaining for TLR3 was performed on sections of CNV membranes from 8 AMD patients and eyes from 4 donors without CNV. Results: All CNV membranes expressed TLR3 in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. One was classified as having strong intensity, 5 as having moderate intensity and 2 as having weak intensity. All cases had ≧30% of the RPE cells staining for TLR3, ranging from 30 to 90%. No expression of TLR3 was observed in vascular endothelial cells or fibroblasts in any CNV membrane. In the donor eyes, the RPE cells near the ora serrata stained stronger than those at the posterior pole, where no staining was observed in 3 out of 4 cases. Conclusion: TLR3 was found in all CNV membranes and was expressed exclusively in RPE cells. The observed difference in RPE staining for TLR3 in donor eyes and CNV membranes suggests a possible role for this receptor in human neovascular AMD.

The purpose of this study was to examine the neuroprotective effects of caffeic acid hexyl (CAF6) and dodecyl (CAF12) amide derivatives on the early stage of retinopathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Animals were divided in five groups (n = 8/group); one group consisted of non-diabetic rats as control, while the other four were diabetic animals either non-treated or treated with CAF6, CAF12 or resveratrol intravitreally for four weeks. Retinal superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and 8-iso-prostaglandin F 2α (iPF 2α ) levels were evaluated by an ELISA assay. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and AKT was determined by immunoblotting in retinal homogenates. Retinal morphology was also examined using light microscopy. Treatment with CAF6 and CAF12 increased retinal SOD activity, while it decreased iPF 2α levels in diabetic rats. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was increased, while AKT phosphorylation was decreased in diabetic rats compared to normal control and these alterations were significantly reversed in diabetic rats treated with CAF6 and CAF12. Furthermore, thickness of the whole retinal layer, outer nuclear layer, and ganglion cell count were decreased in diabetic rats compared to control and CAF6 and CAF12 treatments prevented these changes. CAF6 and CAF12 seem to be effective agents for treatment of diabetic retinopathy via attenuation of retinal oxidative stress and improvement of neuronal survival signaling.

<span style="color: #1f497d;">Introduction: This study was conducted to compare the effect of nanofibrous polycaprolactone (PCL) and PCL/gelatin (PCL/Gel) on limbal epithelial stem cell (LESC) and its efficiency for transplantation in animal model. <br /> <span style="color: #1f497d;">Methods: PCL and PCL/Gel with a mass ratio of 70:30 and 50:50 was fabricated by electrospinning method. Human LESCs were cultured on PCL and PCL/Gel scaffolds and the effect of each scaffold on LESC proliferation, attachment and corneal epithelial regeneration in an animal model was evaluated, considering ease of use of scaffold and final transparency of the cornea.<br /> <span style="color: #1f497d;">Results: Our data showed that PCL was more suitable than PCL/Gel for LESCs adherence, induction of epithelial morphology and proliferation. Histopathologic analysis of corneal sections from transplanted animals showed that epithelium was regenerated almost similar in PCL and PCL/Gel groups; however, vascularization and inflammation were significantly lower in the group receiving PCL. <br /> Conclusion: The represented data indicated the priority of PCL to PCL/Gel for the LESC attachment, proliferation and final outcome in an animal model of alkaline injury. This finding might be promising for cell therapy of corneal diseases.