2. Academic Validation
  3. Pentoxifylline treats Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis by reducing fungal burden and suppressing corneal inflammation

Pentoxifylline treats Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis by reducing fungal burden and suppressing corneal inflammation

  • Eur J Pharmacol. 2023 Feb 21;175607. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175607.
Menghui Chi 1,  Lingwen Gu 1,  Lina Zhang 1,  Jing Lin 1,  Qiang Xu 1,  Nan Jiang 1,  Yuwei Wang 1,  Yinghe Qi 1,  Weilin Diao 1,  Wendan Yi 1,  Guiqiu Zhao 2,  Cui Li 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266003, China.
  • 2 Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266003, China. Electronic address: zhaoguiqiu_good@126.com.
  • 3 Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266003, China. Electronic address: yankelicui@126.com.
PMID: 36822458 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175607
Abstract

Fungal keratitis (FK) is a blinding ocular disease, which mainly results from Fungal damage and excessive inflammation. Pentoxifylline, a kind of methylxanthine, has been discovered to have anti-inflammatory properties in various infectious diseases, hinting a potential therapeutic effect on treating corneal fungal Infection. Whereas, the therapeutic impact of pentoxifylline on Fungal keratitis is still uncertain. This study investigated the Antifungal capability against Aspergillus fumigatus and the anti-inflammatory role of pentoxifylline by activating nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase1 (HO1) pathway in the process of FK. In our research, we demonstrated that pentoxifylline could effectively inhibit Fungal growth and inflammatory reaction. Pentoxifylline reduced the production of pro-inflammatory factors by stimulating the Nrf2/HO1 pathway. Although there was no statistical difference between the curative efficacy of pentoxifylline and natamycin application to FK, pentoxifylline could promote corneal epithelial repair and was less toxicity to the ocular surface than natamycin. In conclusion, pentoxifylline performs Antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects by lessening the fungus burden and activating the Nrf2/HO1 pathway, hinting that it has the potential to be a new therapeutic medication for Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis.

Keywords

Aspergillus fumigatus; Fungal keratitis; Nrf2/HO1; Pentoxifylline; Treatment.

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