Development of a Novel In Vitro Immuno-Competent Model of Dry Eye Disease and Its Use to Evaluate the Efficacy of an Ocular Surface Modulator

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To develop an in vitro model of severe immunocompetent-dry eye disease (ic-DED) and to investigate the mechanism of action of a T-lysial ocular surface modulator.

Materials and Methods

The reconstructed human corneal epithelium (HCE) was exposed to dryness stimuli. THP-1 cell infiltration into HCE was monitored at 4 h and 24 h from T-lysial application by immunohistochemistry (CD14, CD86, AQP3) and molecular biology (AQP3, TLR4 and TNF-α).

Results

A reduction of CD14, CD86 and AQP3 was observed after T-lysial treatment at 24 h. TLR4 was overexpressed in ic-DED model and downregulated by T-Lysial after 24 h. TNF-α expression was not modified.

Conclusion

The ic-DED model can be used to monitor the migration and differentiation of THP-1 into HCE. T-lysial was found to exert anti-inflammatory activity. This experimental model is a promising tool to study the crosstalk between epithelial and immune cells, providing new insights on the mechanisms of DED onset.

KEYWORDS:

• Corneal epithelium
• dry eye disease
• inflammation
• immune cells
• ocular surface modulator

Acknowledgments

Editorial assistance was provided by Barbara Bartolini PhD and Aashni Shah (Polistudium SRL, Milan, Italy). This assistance was supported by internal funds.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This research study has been financed by Sildeha (Switzerland).