Background. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA)-induced keratitis is one of the most common and destructive of bacterial diseases, ultimately culminating in blindness. This opportunistic, Gram-negative organism is best known to cause bacterial keratitis in extended contact lens wearers. In the United States alone the incidence of microbial keratitis is 25,000-30,000 cases annually with cost of treatment estimated at $15-30 million. Objective/Hypothesis. This sight-threatening disease is in large part a consequence of the inflammatory response invoked by the host, which depends on the regulation of immune cells, balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory factors released by these cells and the microenvironment, and effective restoration of tissue homeostasis. In this regard and in light of increasing incidence of antibiotic resistance, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), a 28-amino acid neuropeptide, has been implicated as a potent endogenous immunomodulator that affects the immune response in an anti-inflammatory manner. The goal is to delineate the VIP-induced pro-resolving mechanisms of inflammation and innate immunity using a murine model of corneal infectious disease. Furthermore, initiate pre-clinical studies for VIP as a therapeutic treatment for corneal infectious disease.
Specific Aims. This proposal intends to: 1) ascertain the effects of VIP regarding expression/activation of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) of inflammation; 2) examine how VIP influences ? T cells and the production of IL-17 in driving inflammatory resolution; and 3) establish the efficacy of VIP treatment as a clinically relevant therapy for bacterial keratitis against multiple strains of PA. Study Design. Ocular infection will be induced as follows: the right eye of each animal will be scarified, and a 5 mL aliquot containing 1 x 106 CFU PA will be topically applied to the wounded corneal surface. Disease response and mechanisms of resolution will be compared between experimental (VIP-treated B6 mice) and control (PBS-treated B6 mice and PBS-treated BALB/c mice) animals using a number of well-established techniques to assess the activation state of immune cells, expression and activation of lipid mediators (lipoxins, resolvins, protectins), and other parameters of inflammation. In addition, studies will be carried out to establish pre-clinically relevant treatment modalities for VIP (e.g., modes of drug delivery, initiation of treatment post-infection, efficacy against cytotoxic and invasive strains of PA). Impact. The project examines therapeutically how interactions between the immune and neuroendocrine systems play an essential role in the resolution of ocular infection and subsequent preservation of the visual nervous system and visual acuity. In particular, the proposed studies will establish a solid basis of pre-clinical relevance to human treatment of bacterial keratitis.

Public Health Relevance

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative pathogen associated with bacterial keratitis, particularly in contact lens wearers, with considerable medica and economic consequences. The well-established murine model not only markedly advances our understanding of disease pathogenesis, but provides pre-clinical data supporting the development of novel therapies for human treatment of ocular infectious disease where antibiotic resistance and use of steroids continue to raise concern.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY023226-02
Application #
8805843
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (DPVS)
Program Officer
Mckie, George Ann
Project Start
2014-03-01
Project End
2018-02-28
Budget Start
2015-03-01
Budget End
2016-02-29
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$378,367
Indirect Cost
$128,376
Name
Wayne State University
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001962224
City
Detroit
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48202
Carion, Thomas W; Kracht, David; Strand, Eliisa et al. (2018) VIP modulates the ALX/FPR2 receptor axis toward inflammation resolution in a mouse model of bacterial keratitis. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat 140:18-25
Carion, Thomas W; Greenwood, Matthew; Ebrahim, Abdul Shukkur et al. (2018) Immunoregulatory role of 15-lipoxygenase in the pathogenesis of bacterial keratitis. FASEB J 32:5026-5038
Shi, Haoshen; Berger, Elizabeth A (2018) Characterization of Site-Specific Phosphorylation of NF-?B p65 in Retinal Cells in Response to High Glucose and Cytokine Polarization. Mediators Inflamm 2018:3020675
Shi, Haoshen; Ebrahim, Abdul S; Berger, Elizabeth A (2018) A Contrast in Pathogenic Responses between C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ Mice Using a Model of Retinal Injury. Am J Pathol 188:2717-2728
Berger, Elizabeth A; Carion, Thomas W; Jiang, Youde et al. (2016) ?-Adrenergic receptor agonist, compound 49b, inhibits TLR4 signaling pathway in diabetic retina. Immunol Cell Biol 94:656-61
Shi, Haoshen; Carion, Thomas W; Jiang, Youde et al. (2016) VIP protects human retinal microvascular endothelial cells against high glucose-induced increases in TNF-? and enhances RvD1. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat 123:28-32
Muraleedharan, Chithra K; McClellan, Sharon A; Barrett, Ronald P et al. (2016) Inactivation of the miR-183/96/182 Cluster Decreases the Severity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Induced Keratitis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 57:1506-17
Carion, Thomas W; McWhirter, Cody R; Grewal, Daiyajot K et al. (2015) Efficacy of VIP as Treatment for Bacteria-Induced Keratitis Against Multiple Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 56:6932-40