Inflammation and oxidative stress in corneal tissue in experimental keratitis due to Fusarium solani: amelioration following topical therapy with voriconazole and epigallocatechin gallate

Summary

Combined antifungal and antioxidant therapy may help to reduce oxidative stress in fungal keratitis. Experimental Fusarium solani keratitis was induced by application of F. solani conidia to scarified cornea (right eye) of 16 rabbits (another 4 rabbits were negative controls [Group I]). Five days later, F. solani-infected animals began receiving hourly topical saline alone (Group II), voriconazole (10 mg/ml) alone (Group III), epigallocatechingallate (EGCG, 10 mg/ml) alone (Group IV) or voriconazole and EGCG (Group V). Twenty days post-inoculation, corneal lesions were graded. After animal sacrifice, excised corneas underwent histopathological and microbiological investigations. Corneal tissue levels/activities of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) gene mRNA transcripts, matrix metalloproteinase(MMP) 2 and 9 proteins, malondialdehyde(MDA) and reduced glutathione(GSH), and superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT) and glutathione peroxidise(GPx), were also measured. Clinical and histopathological scores (severity of corneal lesions; [P<0.05]) and mean levels (P<0.05) of IL-1ß and TNF-α mRNA transcripts, MMP 2, MMP 9 and MDA were Group II > Groups IV and III >groups V and I. Mean SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH levels (P<0.05) were Group II < Groups IV and III <groups V and I. Topical voriconazole with EGCG apparently reduces inflammation in experimental F. solani keratitis, as manifested by improved clinical, histological, microbiological and molecular parameters.

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