Secretory Leukoprotease Inhibitor: A Native Antimicrobial Protein in the Innate Immune Response in a Rat Model of S. aureus Keratitis

Purpose. To describe the presence of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), a cationic peptide with antimicrobial and antiprotease activity in the innate immune reaction in a rat model of Staphylococcus aureus keratitis. Methods. Forty female Lewis rats were divided into 2 groups: the infectious keratitis and the epithelial defect groups. Eyes were processed for immunohistochemical studies for SLPI, interleukin-1, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and matrix metalloproteinase-8. Results. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed high levels of SLPI, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and MMP-8 expression in eyes with S. aureus keratitis and with epithelial defects, in contrast to undetectable SLPI expression in the normal control corneas. Conclusions. To our knowledge, this paper is the first to demonstrate the presence of SLPI with increased amounts of proinflammatory cytokines in inflamed and infected corneas

Progression of choroidal metastasis of ovarian serous cystoadenocarcinoma after intravitreal bevacizumab treatment

A 57-year-old woman presented to her ophthalmologist because of rapid deterioration in vision. Dilated funduscopic examination of the right eye showed an elevated, yellow-orange choroidal mass temporal to the fovea; a complete retinal detachment was present in the left eye. The patient was referred to an oncologist. Computerized tomography of the brain, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis were obtained. They revealed an 11-mm mass in the right parietal lobe, a 30-mm mass in the left temporal lobe, 23-mm mass in the right kidney, and multiple nodules in both lungs. Supported by published experience with intravitreal bevacizumab for choroidal metastasis, the patient was injected into the vitreous through the pars plana of the left eye. The tumor mass did not show signs of regression and the visual acuity was unchanged. The patient suffered from end-state complications tumor metastasis and expired one month after the invitreal injection

Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor Is an Inducible Antimicrobial Peptide Expressed in Staphylococcus aureus Endophthalmitis

Purpose. To describe the presence of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), a cationic peptide with antimicrobial and antiprotease activity, in the innate ocular immune reaction in a rat model of Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis. Methods. Seventy-five female Lewis rats were divided into three groups: the endophthalmitis group received an intravitreal injection of 65 colony-forming units of viable S. aureus, the vehicle-injected group received balanced sterile saline solution (BSS), and the control group was not injected. Eyes were enucleated at 24 and 48 hours and processed for immunohistochemical staining and Western blot studies for SLPI. Results. In S. aureus endophthalmitis eyes, there was strong immunostaining for SLPI in the retina and vitreous with associated neutrophilic infiltrates. At 48 hours, corneas also stained for SLPI. Western blots confirmed increased SLPI expression in all infected eyes. By immunohistochemical assays, SLPI was absent in the BSS and control eyes. The causative pathogen was identified in all samples from the endophthalmitis group by traditional culture methods. Conclusions. To our knowledge, this report is the first to demonstrate the presence of SLPI in the inflamed cornea, vitreous, and retina tissues of rat eyes with S. aureus endophthalmitis, suggesting that SLPI has an active role in the innate immunity of the eye. Release of SLPI by inflammatory cells in the anterior and posterior segments may contribute to the host defense response against infectious endophthalmitis

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor is an inducible antimicrobial peptide expressed in staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis

Purpose. To describe the presence of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), a cationic peptide with antimicrobial and antiprotease activity, in the innate ocular immune reaction in a rat model of Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis. Methods. Seventy-five female Lewis rats were divided into three groups: the endophthalmitis group received an intravitreal injection of 65 colony-forming units of viable S. aureus, the vehicle-injected group received balanced sterile saline solution (BSS), and the control group was not injected. Eyes were enucleated at 24 and 48 hours and processed for immunohistochemical staining and Western blot studies for SLPI. Results. In S. aureus endophthalmitis eyes, there was strong immunostaining for SLPI in the retina and vitreous with associated neutrophilic infiltrates. At 48 hours, corneas also stained for SLPI. Western blots confirmed increased SLPI expression in all infected eyes. By immunohistochemical assays, SLPI was absent in the BSS and control eyes. The causative pathogen was identified in all samples from the endophthalmitis group by traditional culture methods. Conclusions. To our knowledge, this report is the first to demonstrate the presence of SLPI in the inflamed cornea, vitreous, and retina tissues of rat eyes with S. aureus endophthalmitis, suggesting that SLPI has an active role in the innate immunity of the eye. Release of SLPI by inflammatory cells in the anterior and posterior segments may contribute to the host defense response against infectious endophthalmitis