Calcineurin Inhibitor Voclosporin Preserves Corneal Barrier and Conjunctival Goblet Cells in Experimental Dry Eye

Abstract

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of voclosporin (VOS) in preventing goblet cell (GC) loss and modulating interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) producing CD4⁺ T cells in the mouse desiccating stress (DS) dry eye model.

Methods:

Mice were subjected to DS and treated topically with vehicle, VOS, or cyclosporine A as a treatment control. Corneal barrier function was evaluated after 5 and conjunctival GC density after 10 days of desiccation. CD4⁺ T cells were isolated from ocular surface draining lymph nodes of dry eye donor mice and adoptively transferred into immune deficient RAG1^−/− mice from which tears and conjunctiva were collected for the evaluation of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and GC density.

Results:

Compared to the vehicle-treated group, VOS was significantly better in preserving corneal barrier function and preventing DS-induced conjunctival GC loss. CD4⁺ T cells from VOS treated dry eye donors caused less conjunctival GC loss than vehicle and suppressed expression of IFN-γ signature genes to a similar extent and transforming growth factor-beta to a greater extent than cyclosporine in adoptive transfer recipients.

Conclusion:

These findings suggest that VOS preserves corneal barrier function and conjunctival GCs and suppresses IFN-γ producing CD4⁺ T cells in experimental dry eye.