Therapeutic intervention with chicken egg white ovomacroglobulin and a new quinolone on experimental Pseudomonas keratitis

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 1994 Aug;232(8):488-93. doi: 10.1007/BF00195359.

Abstract

Background: Chicken egg white ovomacroglobulin (ovoM) is a potent protease inhibitor with broad-spectrum activity against various proteases. The combined effects of ovoM and the new quinolone, ofloxacin (OFLX) on experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis were investigated.

Methods: The in vitro inhibitory effects of ovoM on protease activity in culture fluid of clinically isolated P. aeruginosa and on activity of human neutrophil elastase and cathepsin G were assayed using azo-casein as substrate. Albino rabbits received intrastromal injection of the isolated Pseudomonas strain (1 x 10(5) colony-forming units). At 16 h after inoculation, three treatment groups--0.1% ovoM alone, 0.3% OFLX alone, and a combination of both--and a non-treatment control group were tested.

Results: Protease activity in the culture solution and human neutrophil elastase was inhibited by ovoM, whereas cathepsin G was not inhibited effectively. In vivo additive therapeutic effects of ovoM and OFLX were observed at 96 h (P < 0.05 compared with OFLX alone).

Conclusion: The results indicate that inhibition of proteolytic activity with ovoM is useful in preventing stromal degradation in P. aeruginosa keratitis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cathepsin G
  • Cathepsins / metabolism
  • Egg Proteins, Dietary / therapeutic use*
  • Eye Infections, Bacterial / drug therapy*
  • Keratitis / drug therapy*
  • Keratitis / microbiology
  • Leukocyte Elastase / metabolism
  • Macroglobulins / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Ofloxacin / therapeutic use
  • Pancreatic Elastase / metabolism
  • Pseudomonas / enzymology
  • Pseudomonas Infections / drug therapy*
  • Rabbits
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • alpha-Macroglobulins

Substances

  • Egg Proteins, Dietary
  • Macroglobulins
  • alpha-Macroglobulins
  • ovomacroglobulin
  • Ofloxacin
  • Cathepsins
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • CTSG protein, human
  • Cathepsin G
  • Pancreatic Elastase
  • Leukocyte Elastase