A Human Apolipoprotein E Mimetic Peptide Effectively Inhibits HSV-1 TK-Positive and TK-Negative Acute Epithelial Keratitis in Rabbits

• Published in: Current eye research Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 99 - 102
• Main Authors: Bhattacharjee, Partha S., Neumann, Donna M., Hill, James M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa UK Ltd 01-01-2009; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Animals; apolipoprotein E; apolipoprotein E dimer peptide; Apolipoproteins E - administration & dosage; Disease Models, Animal; DNA, Viral - genetics; epithelial keratitis; Epithelium, Corneal - drug effects; Epithelium, Corneal - virology; foscarnet; herpes simplex virus; Herpesvirus 1, Human - drug effects; Herpesvirus 1, Human - enzymology; Herpesvirus 1, Human - genetics; Humans; Keratitis, Herpetic - drug therapy; Keratitis, Herpetic - metabolism; Keratitis, Herpetic - pathology; Mutation; Ophthalmic Solutions; Peptide Fragments - administration & dosage; Rabbits; Thymidine Kinase - metabolism; Treatment Outcome; trifluorothymidine
• ISSN: 0271-3683; 1460-2202
• DOI: 10.1080/02713680802647662

Purpose: To compare the antiviral effect of a peptide derived from human apolipoprotein E (1% apoEdp) with 1% trifluorothymidine against HSV-1 thymidine kinase (TK)-positive (HSV-1 McKrae) and with 3% foscarnet against HSV-1 TK-negative (KOS background) in the rabbit eye model of acute HSV-1 epithelial keratitis. Materials and Methods: Topical treatment began three days post-infection and continued for five days. Rabbits were treated 5 times per day with 1% apoEdp, 1% trifluorothymidine, 3% foscarnet, or PBS. Slit lamp examination was performed on a masked basis from post-infection days 3-10 to determine the severity of epithelial keratitis. Results: Topical treatment with 1% apoEdp was as effective as 1% trifluorothymidine against TK-positive and 3% foscarnet against TK-negative HSV-1 epithelial keratitis. Conclusions: ApoEdp 1% has efficacy for the topical treatment of TK-positive and TK-negative ocular herpes in the rabbit eye model. Thus, apoEdp has the potential to be used for treatment of keratitis caused by TK mutants.