Topical Use of Rapamycin in Herpetic Stromal Keratitis

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of rapamycin used topically in a mouse model of herpetic stromal keratitis.

Methods: The corneas were infected with herpes simplex virus type-1 strain KOS. Animals were divided into: control (CG), rapamycin (RAPA), cyclosporine (CsA), and dexamethasone (DEXA). The evolution of the disease was assessed clinically and histologically.

Results: On day 10 postinfection (pi), the RAPA group showed only a significantly lower angiogenic development than the CG. On day 14 pi, the treated groups had significantly lower scores for angiogenesis and necrosis than the CG. Also, on day 14 pi, the RAPA and DEXA groups showed significantly lower histopathological scores compared to the CG.

Conclusions: The topical application of 0.05% rapamycin showed greater efficacy than 0.5% cyclosporine and similar efficacy to 0.1% dexamethasone to minimize the immuno-inflammatory process. Also, rapamycin showed early inhibition of the formation of new vessels.

KEYWORDS::

• Cyclosporin A
• Herpetic stromal keratitis
• Immunosuppression
• Angiogenesis
• Rapamycin

Declaration of interest: The authors acknowledge funding from the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Técnica. The authors acknowledge Graciela Zaccagnini for her histopathological technical work. The authors have no financial or other contractual agreements that might cause conflicts of interest or be perceived as causing conflicts of interest.