Cyclooxygenase (COX)-Inhibiting Drug Reduces HSV-1 Reactivation in the Mouse Eye Model

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the effects of COX inhibitors on suppressing HSV-1 reactivation in a mouse model. Methods: BALB/c mice were latently infected with HSV-1 and treated by 0.1% bromfenac Na eye drops, 0.1% pranoprofen eye drops, 0.1 mg oral etodolac 4 times/day, and saline for 4 days. After reactivating the latent HSV-1, we swabbed the mouse ocular surface for the culture of the infectious virus and assessed the viral loads in the eyes and trigeminal ganglia (TGs) using real-time PCR to determine the treatment efficacies. Results: With stimulated reactivation, 10 of 24 (41.7%), 5 of 10 (50.0%), 17 of 25 (68%), and 16 of 22 eyes (72.7%) showed positive swab results in the bromfenac Na, etodolac, pranoprofen, and saline groups, respectively; and a significant difference was seen only between the bromfenac Na and saline groups (p = 0.033). None of the three drug-treated groups showed any significant difference from the saline group in the viral DNA in the eyes and TGs (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Bromfenac Na eye drops can suppress HSV-1 reactivation.