The potential of brimonidine for myopia treatment: Targeting MMP-2 to regulate choroidal thickness and control eye growth
Aiqun Xiang,
Zixuan Peng,
Hong He,
Xuyun Meng,
Yanting Luo,
Junming Yang,
Fang Zeng,
Xiaolian Chen,
Xingwu Zhong
Affiliations
Aiqun Xiang
State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
Zixuan Peng
Hainan Eye Hospital and Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Haikou, China
Hong He
Hainan Eye Hospital and Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Haikou, China
Xuyun Meng
State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
Yanting Luo
Hainan Eye Hospital and Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Haikou, China
Junming Yang
Hainan Eye Hospital and Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Haikou, China
Fang Zeng
State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China
Xiaolian Chen
Hainan Eye Hospital and Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Haikou, China
Xingwu Zhong
State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China; Hainan Eye Hospital and Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Haikou, China; Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, China.
Drug treatment studies are a focal point for identifying novel approaches to reduce myopia progression through basic science research. Here, we investigated the effects of various brimonidine administration routes and concentrations on form-deprivation myopia (FDM) progression, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and collagen alpha1 chain of type I (COL1A1) expression in the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE)-choroid complex and sclera of guinea pigs. They demonstrate that brimonidine has the capacity to impede choroidal thinning induced by FDM, potentially through the induction of choroidal vasodilation. Additionally, we observed that brimonidine effectively counteracts FDM-induced downregulation of choroidal and scleral MMP-2 expression. Suppression of MMP-2 expression may reduce disruption of scleral and choroidal structural integrity which reduces declines in choroidal blood circulation and mitigates increases in ocular elongation. This research elucidates the effects of brimonidine on myopia progression, offering potential insights into therapeutic interventions for myopia.
