Intravitreal thalidomide ameliorates inflammation in a model of experimental uveitis induced by BCG.

Intravitreal thalidomide ameliorates inflammation in a model of experimental uveitis induced by BCG. Int Immunopharmacol. 2020 Feb 01;81:106129 Authors: Castro BFM, Vieira LC, Vasconcelos-Santos DV, Cenachi SPF, Cotta OAL, Guerra MCA, Paiva MRB, Silva LM, Silva-Cunha A, Fialho SL Abstract Uveitis encompasses a heterogeneous and complex group of conditions characterized by intraocular inflammation, frequently affecting young individuals and representing an important cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Animal models have been critical to understand etiology and pathogenesis of uveitis, being also employed to assess new therapeutic strategies, preceding human studies. However, there is still a need of developing and studying different models, due to the difficulties in recapitulating all forms of human uveitis effectively. Although corticosteroids are usually the first-line therapy for non-infectious uveitis, their long-term use is limited by potentially serious side effects in all possible delivery routes. Thus, thalidomide, a drug with anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenic properties, was investigated in a novel experimental model of uveitis, induced by Mycobacterium bovis Calmette-Guérin Bacillus (BCG), in rabbits. The experimental protocol consisted of two subcutaneous injections of BCG, followed by two intravitreal injections of the same antigen, inducing panuveitis. Animals were treated with a single intravitreal injection ...
Source: International Immunopharmacology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tags: Int Immunopharmacol Source Type: research