TRPV1 channels facilitate axonal degeneration of corneal sensory nerves in dry eye

Corneal nerve impairment contributes significantly to dry eye disease (DED) symptoms and is thought to be secondary to corneal epithelial damage. Transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) channels abound in corneal nerve fibers and respond to inflammation-derived ligands, which increase in DED. TRPV1 overactivation promotes axonal degeneration in vitro but whether it participates in DED-associated corneal nerve dysfunction is unknown. To explore this, DED was surgically induced in wild-type and TRPV1-knockout (Trpv1KO) mice, which developed comparable corneal epithelial damage and reduced tear secretion.

Source: American Journal of Pathology - February 5, 2024 Category: Pathology Authors: Manuela Pizzano, Alexia Vereertbrugghen, Agostina Cernutto, Florencia Sabbione, Irene A. Keitelman, Carolina M. Shiromizu, Douglas Vera Aguilar, Federico Fuentes, Mirta N. Giordano, Anal ía S. Trevani, Jeremías G. Galletti Tags: Regular Article Source Type: research