Our previous research revealed that trehalose, a nonreducing disaccharide of glucose and an important stress responsive factor, proved to have anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and particularly antioxidant properties in UVB-irradiated corneas. Trehalose reduced oxidative stress in corneas induced by UVB irradiation, by means of a decrease in the antioxidant/prooxidant imbalance in the corneal epithelium. In this study, we demonstrate that trehalose of 3% or 6% concentration in eye drops directly decreases oxidative stress in UVB-irradiated corneas, by removing the excessive amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Trehalose drops applied on corneas during UVB irradiation once daily for four days resulted in a reduction or even absence of the oxidative stress, DNA damage, and peroxynitrite formation (detected by nitrotyrosine residues), seen in buffer-treated corneas. Furthermore, trehalose treatment applied curatively after repeated irradiation for the subsequent fourteen days led to the renewal of corneal transparency and significant suppression or even absence of neovascularization. This was in contrast to buffer-treated irradiated corneas, where the intracorneal inflammation was developed and the untransparent corneas were vascularized. In conclusion, the treatment of UVB-irradiated corneas with trehalose eye drops removed the excessive amount of ROS in the corneal epithelium, leading to the suppression of oxidative stress and favorable corneal healing. The 6% trehalose showed a higher intensive antioxidant effect.

• MeSH
• Wound Healing drug effects   radiation effects   MeSH
• Interleukin-1beta metabolism   MeSH
• Keratins metabolism   MeSH
• Rabbits MeSH
• Oxidative Stress * drug effects   radiation effects   MeSH
• Corneal Injuries drug therapy   MeSH
• DNA Damage MeSH
• Reactive Oxygen Species metabolism   MeSH
• Re-Epithelialization drug effects   radiation effects   MeSH
• Cornea drug effects   pathology   radiation effects   MeSH
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II metabolism   MeSH
• Trehalose pharmacology   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Tyrosine analogs & derivatives   metabolism   MeSH
• Ultraviolet Rays * MeSH
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A metabolism   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rabbits MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Retracted Publication MeSH
• Names of Substances
• 3-nitrotyrosine MeSH Browser
• Interleukin-1beta MeSH
• Keratins MeSH
• Reactive Oxygen Species MeSH
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II MeSH
• Trehalose MeSH
• Tyrosine MeSH
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A MeSH