X-Message-Number: 19830
Date: Sun, 18 Aug 2002 11:17:08 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: trehalose eye drops

Title
  Trehalose protects corneal epithelial cells
  from death by drying.
Source
  British Journal of Ophthalmology.  85(5):610-2, 2001 May.
Abstract
  AIM: This study was designed to examine whether trehalose
  could protect corneal epithelial cells in culture from death by desiccation
  in order to test trehalose as a potential new eye drop for
  dry eye syndrome. METHODS: Human corneal epithelial cells in near confluent
  culture in wells of a 96 well multidish were preincubated for 15 minutes with
  2, 20, 50, 100, or 200 mM trehalose or maltose in phosphate
  buffered saline (PBS), PBS alone, or three kinds of commercially available
  artificial tear substitutes (one with borate buffered saline and the other
  two containing either hydroxyethylcellulose or hyaluronan). The medium was
  aspirated completely and cells were left dry for 30 minutes at room
  temperature in room humidity. Live cells and dead cells were visualised by
  fluorescent dyes and counted for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The
  percentage of dead corneal epithelial cells after desiccation was
  significantly lower in preincubation with 50, 100, and 200 mM
  trehalose, compared with preincubation with PBS alone (p <
  0.0001, Kruskal-Wallis test, and p < 0.05, Tukey-Kramer test).
  Trehalose at the concentration of 20 mM or lower, maltose at
  any concentrations, and commercially available artificial tear substitutes
  did not protect corneal epithelial cells from death by desiccation.
  CONCLUSIONS: Trehalose at 50, 100, and 200 mM protected
  corneal epithelial cells in culture from death by desiccation.
  Trehalose could be used as a potential new eye drop for dry
  eye syndrome.

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