Selenium-binding lactoferrin is taken into corneal epithelial cells by a receptor and prevents corneal damage in dry eye model animals.

Akihiro Higuchi,Kazuo Tsubota,Yoshio Kaneko,Hiroyoshi Inoue,Erina Oonishi

doi:10.1038/srep36903

Abstract

The ocular surface is strongly affected by oxidative stress, which causes many ocular diseases including dry eye. Previously, we showed that selenium compounds, e.g., selenoprotein P and Se-lactoferrin, were candidates for treatment of dry eye. This paper shows the efficacy of Se-lactoferrin for the treatment of dry eye compared with Diquas as a control drug using two dry eye models and incorporation of lactoferrin into corneal epithelial cells via lactoferrin receptors. We show the efficacy of Se-lactoferrin eye drops in the tobacco smoke exposure rat dry eye model and short-term rabbit dry eye model, although Diquas eye drops were only effective in the short-term rabbit dry eye model. These results indicate that Se-lactoferrin was useful in the oxidative stress-causing dry eye model. Se-lactoferrin was taken into corneal epithelium cells via lactoferrin receptors. We identified LRP1 as the lactoferrin receptor in the corneal epithelium involved in lactoferrin uptake. Se-lactoferrin eye drops did not irritate the ocular surface of rabbits. Se-lactoferrin was an excellent candidate for treatment of dry eye, reducing oxidative stress by a novel mechanism.

Highlights

Author surnames have been highlighted – please check these carefully and indicate if the first name or surname have been marked up incorrectly
We show the efficacy of Se-lactoferrin eye drops in the tobacco smoke exposure rat dry eye model and short-term rabbit dry eye model, Diquas eye drops were only effective in the short-term rabbit dry eye model
We identified lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) as the lactoferrin receptor in the corneal epithelium involved in lactoferrin uptake

Summary

Introduction

Author surnames have been highlighted – please check these carefully and indicate if the first name or surname have been marked up incorrectly. This paper shows the efficacy of Se-lactoferrin for the treatment of dry eye compared with Diquas as a control drug using two dry eye models and incorporation of lactoferrin into corneal epithelial cells via lactoferrin receptors. Se-lactoferrin could supply selenium to the corneal epithelium and Se-lactoferrin eye drops prevented corneal damage by reducing oxidative stress in the corneal epithelium in dry eye model rats[18].

Results

Conclusion