Effect of connexin 43 inhibition by the mimetic peptide Gap27 on corneal wound healing, inflammation and neovascularization.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

The connexin 43 (Cx43) mimetic peptide Gap27 was designed to transiently block the function of this gap junction. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Gap27 on corneal healing, inflammation and neovascularization.

Experimental approach

The effect of Gap27 on wound healing, inflammation and vascularization was assessed in primary human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) in vitro and whole human corneas ex vivo, and in an in vivo rat wound healing model.

Key results

Gap27 enhanced the wound closure of HCEC in vitro and accelerated wound closure and stratification of epithelium in human corneas ex vivo, but did not suppress the corneal release of inflammatory mediators IL-6 or TNF-α in vivo. In human corneas ex vivo, F4/80 positive m

SUBMITTER: Elbadawy HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5055138 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature