Topical Quercetin and Resveratrol Protect the Ocular Surface in Experimental Dry Eye Disease

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To determine the anti-inflammatory effect of quercetin (QCT), resveratrol (RES), and their combination in a dry eye disease (DED) model.

Methods: 0.01% QCT, 0.1% RES, 0.01% QCT + 0.1% RES (QCT + RES) or vehicle were topically applied in a desiccating stress (DS) mice model. CD4⁺ T cells isolated from DS-exposed mice were transferred to athymic recipient mice. Corneal fluorescein staining, tear production, and tear cytokine levels were evaluated in DS-exposed mice, and conjunctival CD4⁺ T cell infiltration was evaluated in recipient mice.

Results: QCT (p < 0.001) and QCT + RES (p < 0.05) reduced corneal staining in DS-exposed mice. IL-1α tear concentration was reduced by QCT, RES, and QCT + RES (p < 0.05, 0.01 and 0.01, respectively) compared to DS + vehicle mice. CD4⁺ T cells increased in recipients of DS-exposed mice (p < 0.05) and were lower in recipients of QCT- and RES-treated mice (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory effect of QCT, RES, and QCT + RES on DED-experimental model suggests that their topical application could be used for DED treatment.

Keywords:

• Desiccating stress
• dry eye syndrome
• inflammation
• quercetin
• resveratrol

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors AAV, MC, MJGG and AES thank to the group of Dr M. E. Stern for their excellent technical assistance.

Declaration of interest

AAV, MES, MC, AES, and MJGG are named coinventors on Spanish patent application. MES and CSS were employees of Allergan and MC was a consultant of Allergan at the time when the experiments were done.

Additional information

Funding

Antonio Abengózar-Vela was supported by ayudas FPI-UVa y ayudas para estancias breves en el desarrollo de tesis doctorales – Universidad de Valladolid, Spain.