Vitreous composition modification after transpalpebral electrical stimulation of the eye: Biochemical analysis. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Colombo, Leonardo; Caretti, Anna; Dei Cas, Michele; Luciano, Francesco; Romano, Dario; Paroni, Rita; Patelli, Fabio; Ghidoni, Riccardo; Rossetti, Luca
• Is Part Of: Experimental eye research. Volume 207(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Electrical stimulation -- Inflammation -- Vitreous fluid -- Lipids -- Lysophosphatidylcholine -- Cytokines; ES electrical stimulation -- (IL)-1β interleukin -- (TNF)-α tumor necrosis factor -- BDNF brain-derived neurotrophic factor -- CNTF ciliary neurotrophic factor -- RGCs retinal ganglion cells -- iERM idiopathic epiretinal membrane -- NT non-treated group -- T treated group -- OCT Optical Coherence Tomography -- PPV Pars Plana core Vitrectomy -- PLS-DA partial least square-discriminant analysis -- LPC lysophosphatidylcholines -- Cer ceramides -- PC phosphatidylcholines -- SM sphingomyelins -- TAG triacylglycerols -- CE cholesterol esters -- VEGF Vascular endothelial growth factor -- FFA free fatty acids; Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; Eye -- Periodicals; Œil -- Périodiques; Ophthalmology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.8405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108601
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-4835

Abstract

Abstract: Electrical stimulation (ES) of the eye represents a therapeutic approach in various clinical applications ranging from retinal dystrophies, age-related macular degeneration, retinal artery occlusion and nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy. In clinical practice, ES of the eye is mainly performed with a transcorneal or transpalpebral approach. These procedures are non-invasive and well-tolerated by the patients, reporting only minimal and transient adverse events, while serious adverse effects were not observed. Despite the growing literature on animal models, only clinical parameters have been investigated in humans and few data are available about biochemical changes induced by ES of the eye. The purpose of this study is to investigate the possible mechanism that regulates the beneficial effects of ES on retinal cells function and survival in humans. 28 patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) were randomly divided in two groups: 13 patients were treated with transpalpebral ES before surgery and 15 underwent surgery with no prior treatment. Vitreous samples were collected for biochemical analysis during PPV. ES treatment leads to a reduction in the vitreous expression of both proinflammatory cytokines, namely IL-6 and IL-8, and proinflammatory lipid mediators, such as lysophosphatidylcholine. Indeed, we observed a 70% decrease of lysophosphatidylcholine 18:0, which has been proven to exert the greatest proinflammatory activities among the lysophosphatidylcholine class. The content of triglycerides is also affected and significantly decreased following ES application. The vitreous composition of patients undergoing PPV for iERM displays significant changes following ES treatment. Proinflammatory cytokines and bioactive lipid mediators expression decreases, suggesting an overall anti-inflammatory potential of ES. The investigation of the mechanism by which this treatment alters the retinal neurons leading to good outcomes is essential for supporting ES therapeutic application in various types of retinal diseases. Highlights: The vitreous composition of patients undergoing PPV for iERM changes after TES. The vitreous content of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6/IL-8 decreases after TES. Bioactive lipid mediators show a reduction after TES. Pro-inflammatory LPC 18:0 shows a 70% decrease after TES. TES leads to an overall anti-inflammatory effect.