TY - JOUR
T1 - Cucurbita argyrosperma seed extracts attenuate angiogenesis in a corneal chemical burn model
AU - Estrella-Mendoza, María Fernanda
AU - Jiménez-Gómez, Francisco
AU - López-Ornelas, Adolfo
AU - Pérez-Gutiérrez, Rosa Martha
AU - Flores-Estrada, Javier
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2019/5
Y1 - 2019/5
N2 - Severe corneal inflammation produces opacity or even perforation, scarring, and angiogenesis, resulting in blindness. In this study, we used the cornea to examine the effect of new anti-angiogenic chemopreventive agents. We researched the anti-angiogenic effect of two extracts, methanol (Met) and hexane (Hex), from the seed of Cucurbita argyrosperma, on inflamed corneas. The corneas of Wistar rats were alkali-injured and treated intragastrically for seven successive days. We evaluated: opacity score, corneal neovascularization (CNV) area, re-epithelialization percentage, and histological changes. Also, we assessed the inflammatory (cyclooxigenase-2, nuclear factor-kappaB, and interleukin-1β) and angiogenic (vascular endothelial growth factor A, VEGF-A;-receptor 1, VEGFR1; and-receptor 2, VEGFR2) markers. Levels of Cox-2, Il-1β, and Vegf-a mRNA were also determined. After treatment, we observed a reduction in corneal edema, with lower opacity scores and cell infiltration compared to untreated rats. Treatment also accelerated wound healing and decreased the CNV area. The staining of inflammatory and angiogenic factors was significantly decreased and related to a down-expression of Cox-2, Il-1β, and Vegf. These results suggest that intake of C. argyrosperma seed has the potential to attenuate the angiogenesis secondary to inflammation in corneal chemical damage.
AB - Severe corneal inflammation produces opacity or even perforation, scarring, and angiogenesis, resulting in blindness. In this study, we used the cornea to examine the effect of new anti-angiogenic chemopreventive agents. We researched the anti-angiogenic effect of two extracts, methanol (Met) and hexane (Hex), from the seed of Cucurbita argyrosperma, on inflamed corneas. The corneas of Wistar rats were alkali-injured and treated intragastrically for seven successive days. We evaluated: opacity score, corneal neovascularization (CNV) area, re-epithelialization percentage, and histological changes. Also, we assessed the inflammatory (cyclooxigenase-2, nuclear factor-kappaB, and interleukin-1β) and angiogenic (vascular endothelial growth factor A, VEGF-A;-receptor 1, VEGFR1; and-receptor 2, VEGFR2) markers. Levels of Cox-2, Il-1β, and Vegf-a mRNA were also determined. After treatment, we observed a reduction in corneal edema, with lower opacity scores and cell infiltration compared to untreated rats. Treatment also accelerated wound healing and decreased the CNV area. The staining of inflammatory and angiogenic factors was significantly decreased and related to a down-expression of Cox-2, Il-1β, and Vegf. These results suggest that intake of C. argyrosperma seed has the potential to attenuate the angiogenesis secondary to inflammation in corneal chemical damage.
KW - Angiogenesis
KW - Corneal chemical burn
KW - Corneal neovascularization (CNV)
KW - Cucurbita argyrosperma
KW - Cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2)
KW - Interleukin-1β (IL-1β)
KW - Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB)
KW - Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85067183370&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/nu11051184
DO - 10.3390/nu11051184
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 31137826
AN - SCOPUS:85067183370
SN - 2072-6643
VL - 11
JO - Nutrients
JF - Nutrients
IS - 5
M1 - 1184
ER -