Objective:To investigate the mechanism of tissue damage caused by neutrophil matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) in Fusarium keratitis. Methods:A total of 108 male C57BL/6J SPF grade mice, 6-8 weeks old, were selected to establish a model of Fusarium keratitis (FK) in the right eyes.Corneal inflammation in mice was observed and scored under a slit lamp microscope.Based on the corneal inflammation scores, the modeling eyes were divided into 0, 12, 24, 48, and 72-hour groups post-modeling.At the corresponding time points, mice were euthanized, and corneal tissues were collected.The expressions of MMP-8, adenylate-activated protein kinase (AMPKα) and its serine 172-site phosphorylated form (p-AMPKα) proteins in corneal tissues were detected by Western blot.The neutrophil count in mice corneal tissues at each time point was determined using hematoxylin and eosin staining.The co-localization of neutrophils and MMP-8 protein in the cornea was observed by immunofluorescence staining.In the in vitro corneal collagen degradation experiment, corneal tissues were divided into MMP-8 group, buffer group, and normal saline group, which were treated with 100 μl of activated recombinant MMP-8, detection buffer, and normal saline, respectively.Hydroxyproline content in corneal tissues was determined using a hydroxyproline assay kit, and the mass fractions of hydroxyproline were compared among the groups.Peripheral blood neutrophils were isolated from human blood samples, and Fusarium spores were collected for experiments.Human neutrophils were divided into four groups, negative control group (cultured neutrophils), co-culture group (neutrophils co-cultured with spores), AICAR-treated group (neutrophils co-cultured with spores and treated with p-AMPK protein kinase activator AICAR), and compound C-treated group (neutrophils co-cultured with spores and treated with the inhibitor compound C).The MMP-8 protein expression levels in each group of human neutrophils were assessed via immunofluorescence staining.The use and care of animals complied with the ARVO statement and Regulations for the Administration of Affairs Concerning Experimental Animals.The animal experiment protocol was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Henan Eye Hospital (No.HNEECA-2017-04-02).One healthy adult volunteer was selected and 10 ml of peripheral venous blood was collected.The clinical study protocol was approved by the Clinical Ethics Committee of Henan Eye Hospital (No.HNEECKY-2019[16]). Results:At 24 hours post-modeling, corneal opacification was observed in the modeling eyes, and corneal perforation occurred in 72-hour post-modeling group.The corneal inflammation scores in 24, 48, and 72-hour post-modeling groups were all higher than those in 12-hour post-modeling group, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.001).The relative expression levels of MMP-8 protein in the cornea were higher in 12, 24, and 48-hour post-modeling groups compared to 0-hour group, with statistically significant differences (all at P<0.001).There was a moderate positive correlation between the relative expression level of MMP-8 protein in the cornea and the inflammation scores of the modeling eye ( rs=0.50, P<0.05).In the cornea, the p-AMPKα (Thr 172)/AMPKα ratio was higher in 24, 48, and 72-hour post-modeling groups than in 0-hour group, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05).The p-AMPKα(Thr 172)/AMPKα ratio in the cornea was moderately positively correlated with the relative expression level of MMP-8 protein ( r=0.54, P<0.01).The number of neutrophils in the cornea was significantly higher in 24, 48, and 72-hour post-modeling groups than in 0-hour group, with statistically significant differences (all at P<0.001).The number of neutrophils in the cornea was strongly positively correlated with the inflammation score ( rs=0.77, P<0.001), and was moderately positively correlated with the relative expression level of MMP-8 protein ( r=0.56, P<0.05).MMP-8 protein expression in the cornea of the modeling eyes showed a high degree of co-localization with neutrophils.The hydroxyproline content in the cornea was (0.52±0.02)μg/mg, (0.51±0.03)μg/mg, and (0.27±0.02)μg/mg in buffer group, normal saline group and MMP-8 group, respectively, with a significant overall difference among them ( F=156.63, P<0.01).The corneal hydroxyproline content was lower in MMP-8 group compared to buffer and normal saline groups, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05).In the experiment involving the infection of cultured Fusarium spores with human neutrophils, the fluorescence intensity of MMP-8 expression was significantly higher in AICAR-treated group than in negative control group and compound C-treated group, with statistically significant differences (all at P<0.05). Conclusions:The MMP-8 secreted by neutrophils in mice with fungal keratitis can degrade corneal stromal collagen fibers, leading to corneal opacification or perforation.The variations in MMP-8 protein expression levels in human neutrophils may be associated with AMPK activation.

Objective:To study the antimicrobial activity of diacerein on common pathogens of the ocular surface in vitro.Methods:Pathogens were collected from patients with ocular surface infections in Henan Eye Hospital, including Gram-positive cocci and bacilli, Gram-negative bacilli, filamentous fungi, and Candida.The antimicrobial activity of diacerein was determined by the K-B agar diffusion method, and its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the micro-liquid method.Levofloxacin and voriconazole were used as the control of antibacterial and antifungal drug, respectirely.Results:Diacerein showed antibacterial activity against 42 strains of Gram-positive cocci and 10 strains of Gram-positive bacilli, its inhibition zone diameters for Staphylococcus epidermidis, S.aureus, S.intermedius and Gram-positive Corynebacterium were not significantly different from those of levofloxacin (all at P>0.05). Its MIC range of diacetate against Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus, S. intermedius and other Staphylococci was 1-32 μg/ml, and its respective MIC 90 was 16, 8, 16, and 32 μg/ml.Diacerein had no bacteriostatic effect on 23 strains of Gram-negative bacilli, 10 strains of filamentous fungi and 3 strains of candida. Conclusions:Diacerein has antibacterial effects against Gram-positive Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium isolated from the ocular surface, but shows no antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacilli and fungi.Diacerein offers a new drug option and method for the treatment of bacterial keratitis.

Objective: To study the effects of platelets on macrophages phagocytosis and inhibition of fungi. Methods: Macrophages were cultured, Fusarium Pythium spores were extracted and platelets were isolated from blood of mouse.Simple spore group, spore+ macrophage group and mixed platelet group were set, and were inoculated with fungal spore, equal proportion spore+ macrophage and platelet+ spore+ macrophage, respectively.The prepared plate was placed on a spinning disk laser scanning confocal microscope at 1 hour, 2, 3 and 4 hours after culture, five visual fields were randomly selected at the corresponding time points for photography.The phagocytic rate, phagocytic index and fungal spore germination rate were calculated.Fungal hyphae length of each group at 4, 6 and 8 hours after culture were calculated.The single macrophage group, spore+ macrophage group and mixed platelet group were set and the cytotoxicity was measured by real-time cell analyzer.The breeding and use of mice was in according with the ARVO statement.This study was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Henan Eye Institute (HNEECA-2017-04). Results: The phagocytic rate and phagocytic index of macrophages in mixed platelet group at 1 hour, 2, 3 and 4 hours after culture were significantly higher than those in spore+ macrophage group at corresponding time point (all at P<0.05). There were significant differences in spore germination rate at 1 hour, 2, 3 and 4 hours after culture among different groups (H=60.05, 37.89, 55.15, 60.52; all at P<0.001). The spore germination rates of spore+ macrophage group at 1 hour, 2, 3 and 4 hours after culture were lower than those of simple spore group, while the spore germination rates of mixed platelet group at 1 hour and 3, 4 hours after culture were lower than that of spore+ macrophage group, the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.01). There were significant differences in fungal hyphae length at 4, 6 and 8 hours after culture among the three groups (H=13.76, 43.57, 60.87; all at P≤0.001). The fungal hyphae lengths of spore+ macrophage group at 4, 6 and 8 hours after culture were lower than those of simple spore group, and the fungal hyphae lengths of mixed platelet group at 6 and 8 hours after culture were lower than those of spore+ macrophage group at the corresponding time point.The differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05). There was no significant difference in cell index between 0 hour, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours after culture (F=0.02, 1.08, 1.61, 1.58, 2.52; all at P>0.05). There were significant differences in cell index among different groups at 30, 36, 42 and 48 hours after culture (F=10.81, 8.08, 5.61, 5.72; all at P<0.05). The cell indexes in spore+ macrophage group at different time points were significantly lower than those in simple macrophage group (all at P<0.01). Conclusions Platelets can promote the phagocytosis and inhibition of macrophages on fungi, and platelets may have antagonistic effect on fungal cytotoxicity.