Ocular Instillation of Vitamin A-Coupled Liposomes Containing HSP47 siRNA Ameliorates Dry Eye Syndrome in Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is characterized by multiorgan fibrosis and affects the quality of life of transplant survivors. Ocular manifestations are found in 40-60% of GVHD patients, and the most common symptom is dry eye syndrome associated with lacrimal gland fibrosis. We previously demonstrated heat shock protein 47 (HSP47), a collagen specific molecular chaperone, plays a critical role in excessive collagen synthesis in chronic GVHD, and systemic administration of vitamin A-coupled liposomes carrying HSP47 siRNA (VA-lip HSP47) ameliorates skin and salivary gland fibrosis in chronic GVHD (Yamakawa, et al, Blood 2018).

Source: Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation - January 31, 2019 Category: Hematology Authors: Hiroyuki Ohigashi, Daigo Hashimoto, Shuichiro Takahashi, Tomohiro Yamakawa, Eiko Hayase, Takanori Teshima Tags: 229 Source Type: research