Effects of platelet-rich plasma on corneal re-epithelization and metalloproteinase expression in the cornea of sheep with experimentally-induced infectious keratoconjunctivitis

Research (Published online: 19-04-2023)

18. Effects of platelet-rich plasma on corneal re-epithelization and metalloproteinase expression in the cornea of sheep with experimentally-induced infectious keratoconjunctivitis

Dunia Yisela Trujillo Piso, Mónica Yamile Padilla Barreto, Maria del Pilar Sanchez Bonilla, Analorena Cifuentes Rincón, Omar Leonardo Aristizábal Páez, Carlos Augusto Rengifo, and Alexandre Lima de Andrade

Veterinary World, 16(4): 799-810

Dunia Yisela Trujillo Piso: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Impronta Research Group, Cooperative University of Colombia, Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia.

Mónica Yamile Padilla Barreto: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Impronta Research Group, Cooperative University of Colombia, Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia.

Maria del Pilar Sanchez Bonilla: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Impronta Research Group, Cooperative University of Colombia, Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia.

Analorena Cifuentes Rincón: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Impronta Research Group, Cooperative University of Colombia, Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia.

Omar Leonardo Aristizábal Páez: Department of Animal Health, Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Research Group, University of Tolima, Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia.

Carlos Augusto Rengifo: Department of Animal Health, Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Research Group, University of Tolima, Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia.

Alexandre Lima de Andrade: Department of Clinics, Surgery, and Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sao Paulo State University, Aracatuba, SP Brazil.

doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.799-810

Article history: Received: 20-07-2022, Accepted: 01-03-2023, Published online: 19-04-2023

Corresponding authors: Dunia Yisela Trujillo Piso

E-mail: dunia.trujillop@campusucc.edu.co

Citation: Piso DYT, Barreto MYP, Bonilla MPS, Rincón AC, Páez OLA, Rengifo CA, and de Andrade AL (2023) Effects of platelet-rich plasma on corneal re-epithelization and metalloproteinase expression in the cornea of sheep with experimentally-induced infectious keratoconjunctivitis, Veterinary World, 16(4): 799-810.

Abstract

Background and Aim: Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis is the most crucial ophthalmic disease among ruminants worldwide. Moraxella is the bacteria generally associated with this disease and leads to keratitis, conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, or blindness. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) effects in corneal ulcers and different ocular superficial diseases in animals and humans are beneficial and enhance rapid healing and improvement, but the effects in infectious keratoconjunctivitis in ruminants are uncertain. This study aimed to examine the effect of PRP on re-epithelization, corneal tissue, clinical signs, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression in sheep with infectious keratoconjunctivitis.

Materials and Methods: Eighteen sheep were divided into three groups and subjected to a disease-induction experiment. Group 1 (G1) was administered 1.0 mL PRP subconjunctivally, Group 2 (G2) was administered 1.0 mL PRP subconjunctivally and 50 μL gentamicin drops, and the control group (CG) was administered 50 μL saline solution topically every 12 h. Clinical ophthalmologic examination, fluorescein staining, and photography were carried out. Ulcerated areas were measured employing J-Image software. Five and eleven days following the procedure, half of the animals from each group were euthanized, and their corneas were evaluated by histopathology and zymography.

Results: Control Group and G2 epithelialized more rapidly. The CG exhibited fewer clinical signs of ocular disease. In histopathological analysis, in G2, alterations were observed only in the epithelium. The CG and G1 exhibited alterations in the epithelium, stroma, and Descemet’s membrane. In zymography, a decline in MMP-2 expression in the animals treated with PRP was detected. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 was significantly expressed in the animals treated with PRP monotherapy, whereas PRP + gentamicin and CG caused a decrease.

Conclusion: Platelet-rich plasma alone did not demonstrate any beneficial effect on re-epithelialization, a decline in clinical signs, tissue alterations, and expression of metalloproteinases. Platelet-rich plasma combined with gentamicin was capable of suppressing MMPs, primarily MMP-9, but do not display positive effects in re-epithelization, reduction of clinical signs, or tissue effects. These outcomes are similar to those discovered in untreated animals, so the use of PRP in patients with infectious keratoconjunctivitis does not offer greater benefits in sheep. Additional research is required to validate the results of PRP use in natural disease presentation.

Keywords: corneal ulcers, experimental model, matrix metalloproteinase, Moraxella spp., pinkeye, platelet-rich plasma.