Ocular Surface Ion-Channels Are Closely Related to Dry Eye: Key Research Focus on Innovative Drugs for Dry Eye.

Chunyang Wang,Xiuming Jin,Shuo Yang,Yaying Wu

doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.830853

Chunyang Wang, Xiuming Jin + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.830853

Copy DOI

Abstract

Abundant ion-channels, including various perceptual receptors, chloride channels, purinergic receptor channels, and water channels that exist on the ocular surface, play an important role in the pathogenesis of dry eye. Channel-targeting activators or inhibitor compounds, which have shown positive effects in in vivo and in vitro experiments, have become the focus of the dry eye drug research and development, and individual compounds have been applied in clinical experimental treatment. This review summarized various types of ion-channels on the ocular surface related to dry eye, their basic functions, and spatial distribution, and discussed basic and clinical research results of various channel receptor regulatory compounds. Therefore, further elucidating the relationship between ion-channels and dry eye will warrant research of dry eye targeted drug therapy.

Highlights

Ion channels are crucial for sensing temperature and mechanical and chemical stimuli and are important structures for transmitting information between cells [1–3]
As the main component of the ocular surface, many ion channels with various functions exist in the corneal nerve, corneal epithelium, and conjunctival epithelium
Dry eye (DE) is a common ocular surface disease, and the ion channels play an important role in its pathogenesis

Summary

Introduction

Ion channels are crucial for sensing temperature and mechanical and chemical stimuli and are important structures for transmitting information between cells [1–3]. Many studies have reported that the expression of ion channels is influenced by DE in corneal nerve endings, mainly including transient receptor potential (TRP) channels (TRPV1, TRPA1, and TRPM8), acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), and mechanically gated ion channels (piezo2) [11–17]. Studies have shown that purinergic gated ion channel proteins are expressed in the conjunctival epithelium and goblet cells and participate in the inflammatory response of NLRP3 [26].

Results

Conclusion