Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) and Ciprofloxacin conjunctive treatment improves Pseudomonas aeruginosa induced bacterial keratitis

Abstract

The human eye is an intricate system of tissues and nerves working together to enable clear sight. The cornea is key to this system. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) induced bacterial keratitis (BK) is a common infection that infiltrates the cornea and can cause inflammation and eventually blindness through corneal perforation. The over 38 million contact lens users in the U.S. are especially vulnerable to PA, and current treatments through steroids or eye drops are both expensive and insufficient. What makes treatment through the protein thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) promising is that it has been shown in previous studies to combat infiltration by recruiting PMN’s to the site quickly after infection to promote would healing by expression of pro-resolving lipid mediators. In addition to Tβ4, treatment with the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin was tested due to its success in treating BK. Overall, the goal was to find a more efficient and cheaper way to combat PA induced BK.