Topical administration of the kappa opioid receptor agonist nalfurafine suppresses corneal neovascularization and inflammation

Sci Rep. 2021 Apr 21;11(1):8647. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-88118-6.

Abstract

Corneal neovascularization (CNV) causes higher-order aberrations, corneal edema, ocular inflammation, and corneal transplant rejection, thereby decreasing visual acuity. In this study, we investigated the effects of topical administration of the kappa opioid receptor agonist nalfurafine (TRK-820) on CNV. To induce CNV, intrastromal corneal sutures were placed on the corneal stroma of BALB/c mice for 2 weeks. Nalfurafine (0.1 µg/2 μL/eye) was topically administered to the cornea once or twice daily after CNV induction. The CNV score, immune cell infiltration, and mRNA levels of angiogenic and pro-inflammatory factors in neovascularized corneas were evaluated using slit-lamp microscopy, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and polymerase chain reaction. The mRNA expression of the kappa opioid receptor gene Oprk1 was significantly upregulated following CNV induction. Topical administration of nalfurafine twice daily significantly suppressed CNV and lymphangiogenesis, as well as reduced the mRNA levels of angiogenic and pro-inflammatory factors in the neovascularized corneas. Moreover, nalfurafine administration twice daily reduced the numbers of infiltrating leukocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, and interferon-γ-producing CD4+ T cells in the neovascularized corneas. In this study, we demonstrated that topical administration of nalfurafine suppressed local CNV in a mouse model along with the activation of KOR, suggesting that nalfurafine may prevent and control CNV in humans.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Topical
  • Animals
  • Corneal Edema / drug therapy
  • Corneal Edema / metabolism
  • Corneal Neovascularization / drug therapy*
  • Corneal Neovascularization / metabolism
  • Corneal Stroma / drug effects*
  • Corneal Stroma / metabolism
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Morphinans / administration & dosage*
  • Neutrophils / drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptors, Opioid, kappa / agonists*
  • Spiro Compounds / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Morphinans
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Opioid, kappa
  • Spiro Compounds
  • TRK 820