Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the mucoadhesive and regenerative properties of a novel lubricating multimolecular ophthalmic solution (GlicoPro®) extracted from snail mucus and its potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic role in the management of dry eye disease (DED). GlicoPro bio-adhesive efficacy was assessed using a lectin-based assay, and its regenerative properties were studied in a human corneal epithelial cell line. In vitro DED was induced in human corneal tissues; the histology and mRNA expression of selected genes of inflammatory and corneal damage biomarkers were analyzed in DED tissues treated with GlicoPro. A higher percentage of bio-adhesivity was observed in corneal cells treated with GlicoPro than with sodium hyaluronate-based compounds. In the scratch test GlicoPro improved in vitro corneal wound healing. Histo-morphological analysis revealed restoration of cellular organization of the corneal epithelium, microvilli, and mucin network in DED corneal tissues treated with GlicoPro. A significant reduction in inflammatory and ocular damage biomarkers was observed. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified an endogenous opioid, opiorphin, in the peptide fraction of GlicoPro. In conclusion, GlicoPro induced regeneration and bio-adhesivity in corneal cells; moreover, considering its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, this novel ophthalmic lubricating solution may be an innovative approach for the management of DED.
Highlights
We observed a high prevalence of mucopolysaccharides, such as GAG and sulfurated GAG (sGAG), which might enhance the bio-adhesivity of GlicoPro
We tested formulations using in vitro studies and an experimentally induced in vitro dry eye human the rheological and immunomodulating properties and cytoprotective effects of GlicoPro corneal tissue [6,30,31]
Aspersa on human keratinocytes demonstratedinduced that the in presence of mucorneal tissue previous experimental study testing the mucus bio-adhesive copolysaccharides improved the adhesion of mucus to the skin, because hydrogen bonding properties
Summary
Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial ocular disease affecting approximately. 5–50% of the global adult population, with an increasing worldwide incidence [1]. DED symptoms, ranging from ocular discomfort to pain and vision disturbance, can become both physically and psychologically debilitating with a negative impact on a patient’s quality of life [2,3]. Etiological and risk factors that may play a pathogenic role in inducing DED include female sex, older age, Asian race, anterior and posterior blepharitis, environmental conditions, use of video display terminals, contact lens wearers, topical and systemic medications, autoimmune diseases, ocular surgery, and predisposing ocular anatomic abnormalities [4].
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