Developing advanced therapeutics through the study of naturally occurring immune-mediated ocular disease in domestic animals.

The research article focuses on the development of innovative therapeutics like gene and cell therapies for ocular diseases through the study of naturally occurring immune-mediated eye diseases in domestic animals.

Research Aim

• The research aims to examine the role and importance of studying immune-mediated ocular diseases in domestic animals, such as horses, cats, and dogs, to develop innovative therapeutics for humans.

Importance of One Health Initiatives

• The review highlighted specific instances from the author’s laboratory on cell and gene therapy studies. The objective was to emphasize the significance of ‘One Health’ initiatives, which are collaborative global efforts in health for people, animals, and the environment.

Cell Therapy Findings

• The research found that the injection of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) subconjunctivally resulted in the resolution of immune-mediated keratitis (IMMK), a corneal inflammatory disease common in the species studied. It had no adverse effects, indicating its potential as a viable treatment for IMMK.
• This supports the idea that using subconjunctival MSCs could be an effective treatment method for ocular surface immune-mediated diseases in humans and other species. This includes diseases like herpetic stromal keratitis and immunologic dry eye disease.

Gene Therapy Findings

• The paper also studied the use of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors to deliver immunosuppressive transgene cDNA of equine interleukin 10 (eqIL-10) or human leukocyte antigen G through an injection into the eye’s vitreous body (intravitreally). This method showed safety and inhibited the occurrence of uveitis (inflammation of the eye’s uvea) in a laboratory rat model of the disease.
• These findings are stepping stones for future clinical trials in animals with naturally occurring immune-mediated diseases. The research mentioned the possibility of a therapeutic trial for AAV-eqIL-10 in horses with equine recurrent uveitis as an example.