TY - JOUR
T1 - Wound Healing Response After Bleb-Forming Glaucoma Surgery With a SIBS Microshunt in Rabbits
AU - van Mechelen, Ralph J. S.
AU - Wolters, Jarno E. J.
AU - Herfs, Marjolein
AU - Bertens, Christian J. F.
AU - Gijbels, Marion
AU - Pinchuk, Leonard
AU - Gorgels, Theo G. M. F.
AU - Beckers, Henny J. M.
N1 - Funding Information: We thank InnFocus, Inc., for their generous contribution of the SIBS microshunts, as well as F.A.M. Welten and C. Steen for their contribution to this work. Supported by a grant from the Chemelot Institute for Science and Technology (BM3.03 SEAMS). Funding Information: Supported by a grant from the Chemelot Institute for Science and Technology (BM3.03 SEAMS). Publisher Copyright: © 2022, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Inc.. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/8/1
Y1 - 2022/8/1
N2 - Purpose: The PreserFlo MicroShunt is an innovative implant for the surgical treatment of glaucoma. Although usually effective, surgeries can still fail due to fibrosis. This study was conducted to gain insight into the histological aspects of the fibrotic response and find potential targets to reduce postoperative fibrosis. Methods: Fifteen New Zealand White rabbits were implanted with a microshunt and followed up for 40 days. Animals were euthanized at postoperative days (PODs) 1, 5, and 40 to collect eyes for histological evaluation. Bleb formation and ocular health were assessed by slit-lamp (SL) biomicroscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured using rebound tonometry. Results: Blebs failed after approximately 2 weeks based on bleb survival and IOP measurements. No severe complications were observed with OCT and SL. Histology revealed a wide variety of cells, in the bleb and around the microshunt, including polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs), myofibroblasts, and foreign body giant cells, at different PODs. Conclusions: Implantation of a poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) microshunt in rabbits resulted in the occurrence of a wide variety of cells during the wound-healing response. Future research should further elucidate the potential of these (earlier often overlooked) cells to target the fibrotic response in vivo—for example, by developing novel antifibrotic drugs, methods for sustained delivery of medications, or augmenting material properties. Translational Relevance: Current antifibrotic therapies aim to inhibit myofibroblasthowever, a wide variety of cells are involved in the fibrotic response. Future researcfocusing on these cells could offer novel methods for reducing the fibrotic response afteglaucoma surgery.
AB - Purpose: The PreserFlo MicroShunt is an innovative implant for the surgical treatment of glaucoma. Although usually effective, surgeries can still fail due to fibrosis. This study was conducted to gain insight into the histological aspects of the fibrotic response and find potential targets to reduce postoperative fibrosis. Methods: Fifteen New Zealand White rabbits were implanted with a microshunt and followed up for 40 days. Animals were euthanized at postoperative days (PODs) 1, 5, and 40 to collect eyes for histological evaluation. Bleb formation and ocular health were assessed by slit-lamp (SL) biomicroscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured using rebound tonometry. Results: Blebs failed after approximately 2 weeks based on bleb survival and IOP measurements. No severe complications were observed with OCT and SL. Histology revealed a wide variety of cells, in the bleb and around the microshunt, including polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs), myofibroblasts, and foreign body giant cells, at different PODs. Conclusions: Implantation of a poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) microshunt in rabbits resulted in the occurrence of a wide variety of cells during the wound-healing response. Future research should further elucidate the potential of these (earlier often overlooked) cells to target the fibrotic response in vivo—for example, by developing novel antifibrotic drugs, methods for sustained delivery of medications, or augmenting material properties. Translational Relevance: Current antifibrotic therapies aim to inhibit myofibroblasthowever, a wide variety of cells are involved in the fibrotic response. Future researcfocusing on these cells could offer novel methods for reducing the fibrotic response afteglaucoma surgery.
KW - animal model
KW - fibrosis
KW - glaucoma surgery
KW - microshunt
KW - wound-healing response
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85136937575&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1167/tvst.11.8.29
DO - https://doi.org/10.1167/tvst.11.8.29
M3 - Article
C2 - 36018582
SN - 2164-2591
VL - 11
JO - Translational Vision Science and Technology
JF - Translational Vision Science and Technology
IS - 8
M1 - 29
ER -