Obtusifolin ameliorates dry eye model in rats by reducing inflammation and blocking MAPK/NF-κB pathways
AIM: To investigate the functions and potential mechanisms of obtusifolin in dry eye disease (DED) in a rat model. METHODS: A rat DED model was established via topical administration of benzalkonium chloride (BAC), followed by administration of obtusifolin. Conjunctival irritation score and tear pro...
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Press of International Journal of Ophthalmology (IJO PRESS)
2025-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Ophthalmology |
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| Online Access: | http://ies.ijo.cn/en_publish/2025/8/20250802.pdf |
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| author | Dan Zhu Xiao-Yang Wu Liang-Chang Li |
| author_facet | Dan Zhu Xiao-Yang Wu Liang-Chang Li |
| author_sort | Dan Zhu |
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| description | AIM: To investigate the functions and potential mechanisms of obtusifolin in dry eye disease (DED) in a rat model. METHODS: A rat DED model was established via topical administration of benzalkonium chloride (BAC), followed by administration of obtusifolin. Conjunctival irritation score and tear production were measured to evaluate DED symptoms. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed for determining inflammatory cytokine levels in rat conjunctiva. Periodic acid-Schiff staining and corneal fluorescein staining were implemented for assessing goblet cell numbers and corneal epithelial defects, respectively. Western blotting showed zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling-related protein levels in the conjunctiva. RESULTS: Topical application of obtusifolin alleviated conjunctival irritation and enhanced tear production in BAC-induced DED rats. Obtusifolin attenuated conjunctival inflammatory response and goblet cell loss as well as corneal epithelial barrier disruption in DED rats. Obtusifolin suppressed extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and NF-κB phosphorylation in the conjunctiva of DED rats. CONCLUSION: Obtusifolin ameliorates DED in rats possibly by alleviating inflammation via the inactivation of MAPK/NF-κB signaling. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fe4aebdc722a479688b4eaf52bc278cc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2222-3959 2227-4898 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Press of International Journal of Ophthalmology (IJO PRESS) |
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| series | International Journal of Ophthalmology |
| spelling | doaj-art-fe4aebdc722a479688b4eaf52bc278cc2025-08-20T03:27:28ZengPress of International Journal of Ophthalmology (IJO PRESS)International Journal of Ophthalmology2222-39592227-48982025-08-011881426143210.18240/ijo.2025.08.0220250802Obtusifolin ameliorates dry eye model in rats by reducing inflammation and blocking MAPK/NF-κB pathwaysDan Zhu0Xiao-Yang Wu1Liang-Chang Li2Dan Zhu. Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430061, Hubei Province, China. zhudan@hbhtcm.comDepartment of Ophthalmology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430061, Hubei Province, China; Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430061, Hubei Province, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Research and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430061, Hubei Province, ChinaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430061, Hubei Province, China; Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430061, Hubei Province, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Research and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430061, Hubei Province, ChinaAIM: To investigate the functions and potential mechanisms of obtusifolin in dry eye disease (DED) in a rat model. METHODS: A rat DED model was established via topical administration of benzalkonium chloride (BAC), followed by administration of obtusifolin. Conjunctival irritation score and tear production were measured to evaluate DED symptoms. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed for determining inflammatory cytokine levels in rat conjunctiva. Periodic acid-Schiff staining and corneal fluorescein staining were implemented for assessing goblet cell numbers and corneal epithelial defects, respectively. Western blotting showed zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling-related protein levels in the conjunctiva. RESULTS: Topical application of obtusifolin alleviated conjunctival irritation and enhanced tear production in BAC-induced DED rats. Obtusifolin attenuated conjunctival inflammatory response and goblet cell loss as well as corneal epithelial barrier disruption in DED rats. Obtusifolin suppressed extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and NF-κB phosphorylation in the conjunctiva of DED rats. CONCLUSION: Obtusifolin ameliorates DED in rats possibly by alleviating inflammation via the inactivation of MAPK/NF-κB signaling.http://ies.ijo.cn/en_publish/2025/8/20250802.pdfdry eye diseaseobtusifolininflammationtear productionmitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor kappa brats |
| spellingShingle | Dan Zhu Xiao-Yang Wu Liang-Chang Li Obtusifolin ameliorates dry eye model in rats by reducing inflammation and blocking MAPK/NF-κB pathways International Journal of Ophthalmology dry eye disease obtusifolin inflammation tear production mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor kappa b rats |
| title | Obtusifolin ameliorates dry eye model in rats by reducing inflammation and blocking MAPK/NF-κB pathways |
| title_full | Obtusifolin ameliorates dry eye model in rats by reducing inflammation and blocking MAPK/NF-κB pathways |
| title_fullStr | Obtusifolin ameliorates dry eye model in rats by reducing inflammation and blocking MAPK/NF-κB pathways |
| title_full_unstemmed | Obtusifolin ameliorates dry eye model in rats by reducing inflammation and blocking MAPK/NF-κB pathways |
| title_short | Obtusifolin ameliorates dry eye model in rats by reducing inflammation and blocking MAPK/NF-κB pathways |
| title_sort | obtusifolin ameliorates dry eye model in rats by reducing inflammation and blocking mapk nf κb pathways |
| topic | dry eye disease obtusifolin inflammation tear production mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor kappa b rats |
| url | http://ies.ijo.cn/en_publish/2025/8/20250802.pdf |
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