Inhibition of Corneal Neovascularization by Topical and Subconjunctival Tigecycline

Abstract

Objective. To investigate the effects of topical and subconjunctival tigecycline on the prevention of corneal neovascularization. Materials and Methods. Following chemical burn, thirty-two rats were treated daily with topical instillation of 1 mg/mL tigecycline (group 1) or subconjunctival instillation of 1 mg/mL tigecycline (group 3) for 7 days. Control rats received topical (group 2) or subconjunctival (group 4) 0.9% saline. Digital photographs of the cornea were taken on the eighth day after treatment and analyzed to determine the percentage area of the cornea covered by neovascularization. Corneal sections were analyzed histopathologically. Results. The median percentages of corneal neovascularization in groups 1 and 3 were 48% (95% confidence interval (CI), 44.2–55.8%) and 33.5% (95% CI, 26.6–39.2%), respectively. The median percentages of corneal neovascularization of groups 1 and 3 were significantly lower than that of the control group (P = 0.03 and P < 0.001, resp.). Histologic examination of samples from groups 1 and 3 showed lower vascularity than that of control groups. Conclusion. Topical and subconjunctival administration of tigecycline seems to be showing promising therapeutic effects on the prevention of corneal neovascularization. Furthermore, subconjunctival administration of tigecycline is more potent than topical administration in the inhibition of corneal neovascularization.

Tigecycline as a dual inhibitor of retinoblastoma and angiogenesis via inducing mitochondrial dysfunctions and oxidative damage

“…8A,B ). The inhibition of corneal neovascularization by tigecycline has been shown in a rat model 30 . Our findings further extend the previous work that tigecycline inhibits angiogenesis induced not only by chemical cauterization but also by tumor progression.…”

Current and emerging therapies for corneal neovascularization

“…However, in later stages, venules, veins, and finally arterioles are seen. 166 Grading or scoring of CNV in a histologic section can be performed by counting the number of vessels per square millimeter 167 or by measuring the total vascularized area and the percentage of the cornea covered by vessels. 115…”

Comparison of the Effects of Subconjunctival Injections of Bevacizumab and Interferon Alpha-2a on Corneal Angiogenesis in a Rat Model

“…Various therapeutic agents including anti-VEGF, steroids, doxycycline, tigecycline, minocycline, pazopanib, and indomethacin have been demonstrated to be efficacious at blocking corneal neovascularization pathways [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 20 , 21 ]. Bevacizumab has been used at different concentrations and over different treatment periods, either topically or subconjunctivally, in the treatment of corneal NV and has been shown to be efficient in decreasing neovascularization.…”

“…Various mediators including vascular endotehelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteases, and cytokines have been implicated in the stimulation of new vessel formation [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. A variety of pharmacotherapies including anti-VEGF drugs, triamcinolone acetonide, tetracycline derivatives, and multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) have been studied as potential CNV inhibitors [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”