Effects of sunitinib and bevacizumab on VEGF and miRNA levels on corneal neovascularization.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of sunitinib (0.5 mg/ml) and bevacizumab (5 mg/ml) on VEGF-A, VEGFR-2 and microRNA (miRNA) levels on corneal neovascularization (CNV).

METHODS

In this study, CNV was induced by silver nitrate application to the cornea, and 40 Albino male rats were equally divided into four subgroups: Group 1 (sunitinib): After silver nitrate application to the cornea, 0.5 mg/ml sunitinib eyedrop was administered twice daily for two weeks (n = 10). Group 2 (bevacizumab): After silver nitrate application to the cornea, 5 mg/ml bevacizumab eyedrop was administered twice daily for two weeks (n = 10). Group 3 (control): After silver nitrate application to the cornea, normal saline eyedrop was administered twice daily for two weeks (n = 10). Group 4 (vehicle): After silver nitrate application to the cornea, 1% DMSO eyedrop was administered twice daily for two weeks (n = 10). After two weeks from the silver nitrate application, corneas were evaluated by hand-held biomicroscope for their vascularization status. Then, corneas were excised and the expression levels of VEGFR-2, VEGF-A and the common miRNA markers for neovascularization (miR-15 b, miR-16, miR-23a, miR-126, miR-188, miR-210, miR-221, miR-222, miR-410 and miR-423) were evaluated by real-time PCR.

RESULTS

It was seen that the CNV was decreased in sunitinib- and bevacizumab-administered groups compared to the control and DMSO groups. Also, in comparison with the control group; VEGF-A expression was downregulated by nearly 0.75 times in sunitinib group and nearly 0.52 times in bevacizumab group. VEGFR-2 expression was downregulated by 0.89 times in sunitinib group and 0.68 times in bevacizumab group, compared to the control group. miR-15 b, miR-16 and miR-126 levels were statistically lower in sunitinib and bevacizumab groups, but miR-188 and miR-410 levels were two-fold higher compared to the control group. The miR-210 level was found higher only in sunitinib group compared to the control group. There were no statistically significant changes in miR-23a, miR-221, miR-222 and miR-423 levels among the groups.

CONCLUSION

Topical application of bevacizumab (5 mg/ml) and sunitinib (0.5 mg/ml) decreases the levels of VEGFR-2 and VEGF-A in CNV. Further studies are needed for detailed analysis of genes which are targeted by up- or downregulated miRNAs in this study.