Thalidomide inhibits corneal angiogenesis induced by vascular endothelial growth factor

Ocular diseases caused by neovascularization are among the leading causes of blindness. No specific pharmacological treatment is available. Among potential drugs, thalidomide deserves special interest since a wide body of clinical experience exists. However, its antiangiogenic effect is controversia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology 1998-06, Vol.236 (6), p.461-466
Main Authors: KRUSE, F. E, JOUSSEN, A. M, ROHRSCHNEIDER, K, BECKER, M. D, VÖLCKER, H. E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Administration, Oral
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cornea - drug effects
Cornea - pathology
Corneal Neovascularization - chemically induced
Corneal Neovascularization - pathology
Corneal Neovascularization - prevention & control
Disease Models, Animal
Endothelial Growth Factors
Eye
Follow-Up Studies
Lymphokines
Medical sciences
Ophthalmology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Rabbits
Thalidomide - pharmacology
Treatment Outcome
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
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Summary:Ocular diseases caused by neovascularization are among the leading causes of blindness. No specific pharmacological treatment is available. Among potential drugs, thalidomide deserves special interest since a wide body of clinical experience exists. However, its antiangiogenic effect is controversial. We therefore investigated the effect of thalidomide on corneal angiogenesis induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which has a special role among angiogenic growth factors. Corneal neovascularization was induced in NZW rabbits by an intrastromal pellet loaded with 500 or 750 ng VEGF. Animals received two daily feedings of 200 mg/kg thalidomide. Significant inhibition of corneal angiogenesis (P < 0.0001) was caused by the teratogenic dose of thalidomide after the 5th day of treatment and persisted for more than 16 days. No obvious side effects were recorded. Thalidomide has a significant antiangiogenic effect against VEGF-induced neovasclar growth. Together with earlier findings this observation indicates that the drug inhibits two angiogenic pathways which are mediated through integrin adhesion molecules.
ISSN:0721-832X
1435-702X
DOI:10.1007/s004170050106