Bilateral cataract following unilateral exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Ocular immune cross-talk and immunmodulation between left and right eye.
Final Report Abstract
We demonstrated in our current project that the substance P receptor NKR-1 is not only ubiquitously present in ocular tissues including the lens but that NKR-1 is upregulated after UVR- B exposure in ocular tissues including the retina even though UVR-B does not directly reach the retina since it is absorbed in the lens. Furthermore, we verified our hypothesis that both eyes are connected via a neuropeptide signaling pathway via SP that explains the contralateral involvement after UVR-B exposure of only one eye. This inflammatory reaction can be prevented by the treatment with the NKR-1 antagonist Spantide and the clinical approved drug Fosaprepitant. Thus, we cannot only model physiologic responses to UVR-B on a macroscopic visible, humoural and cellular level, but we even can implement treatment strategies that are already approved for clinical use as in the case of Fosaprepitant in our established experimental model. Recently Bignami et al. demonstrated a growth inhibition of corneal neovascualarizations with Fosaprepitant in a alkali-burn disease model. Based on our findings we seek to continue our current project and further identify UVR- and additionally blue-light induced SP signaling pathways and their involvement in eye diseases such as cataract and age-related macular degeneration in vivo.
Publications
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(2020) Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure of One Eye Stimulates Sympathizing Expression of Neurokinin-1 Receptor but Not Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 in the Partner Eye. Ophthalmic research 63 (1) 59–71
Gross, Janine; Willimsky, Eva; Wegener, Alfred R.; Kronschläger, Martin; Schönfeld, Carl-Ludwig; Holz, Frank G.; Meyer, Linda M.
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Ultraviolet radiation exposure triggers neurokinin-1 receptor upregulation in ocular tissues in vivo. Exp Eye Res. 2018 Apr 26;174:70-79
Gross J, Wegener AR, Kronschlaeger M, Holz FG, Schönfeld CL, Meyer LM
