The role of 2% rebamipide eye drops related to conjunctival differentiation in superoxide dismutase-1 (Sod1) knockout mice

PURPOSE. The superoxide dismutase-1 knockout (Sod1^/ ) mouse is an age-related dry eye mouse model. We evaluated the role of 2% rebamipide ophthalmic solution on the conjunctiva and ocular surface alterations in Sod1^/ mice. METHODS. Rebamipide eye drops (2%) were instilled in six 50-week-old male Sod1^/ mice and six C57BL/6 strain wild-type (WT) male mice four times a day for 2 weeks. Aqueous tear secretion quantity and tear film breakup time measurements as well as vital stainings were performed. Immunohistochemistry staining of the conjunctiva was performed using SAM pointed domain-containing ETS transcription factor (SPDEF), transglutaminase-1, and involucrin antibodies. Quantitative RT-PCR was carried out to study mRNA expression of the same markers. RESULTS. The mean tear quantities showed no significant changes in both mice strains after treatment (P = 0.24). The mean tear film breakup time (P = 0.003) and vital staining scores significantly improved in the Sod1^/ mice after treatment. Treatment with 2% rebamipide eye drops significantly decreased the corneal fluorescein (P = 0.0093) and Rose Bengal (P = 0.002) staining scores in the Sod1^/ mice. We showed a notable increase in SPDEF and a marked decrease in transglutaminase-1 and involucrin immunohistochemistry stainings, together with a significant increase in SPDEF (P = 0.0003) and a significant decline in transglutaminase-1 (P = 0.0072) and involucrin (P = 0.009) mRNA expression after treatment in the Sod1^/ mice. CONCLUSIONS. Topical use of 2% rebamipide drops was observed to improve conjunctival epithelial differentiation and suppress keratinization in the Sod1^/ mice.