The effects of deproteinized calf blood extract (DCBE) on the pathophysiological changes of the ocular surfaces in mice with xerophthalmia

摘要

Dry eye is a common clinical disease, and its incidence rate is increasing. Therefore, it is important to investigate new methods for the treatment of dry eye. A C57BL/6 mouse dry eye model was induced using benzalkonium chloride. The mice were treated with different concentrations of deproteinized calf blood extractives (DCBE) (0, 20%, 50%, and 100%) 3 times/day for 28 days. The tear fluid, cornea fluorescein staining, and corneal inflammation index were measured at 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after the treatment. The number of goblet cells was analyzed. The TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, ICAM-1, p-p38 MAPK, and K10 expressions in the orbital tissue were tested. The tear fluid and number of goblet cells were significantly reduced in the experimental group compared with the negative control (P < 0.05). The tear fluid was significantly increased, but the cornea fluorescein staining and the corneal inflammation index significantly declined starting on the 7th day after the DCBE intervention compared with the positive control (P < 0.05). The number of goblet cells was elevated, but the TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, ICAM-1, p-p38 MAPK, and K10 expressions were downregulated in the DCBE groups compared with the positive control in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.05). DCBE exhibited treatment efficacy in mouse dry eye, which is induced using benzalkonium chloride by blocking the ocular surface squamous metaplasia and alleviating inflammation.