Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-90 Treats Fungal Keratitis by Promoting Macrophage Apoptosis and Targeting Increased Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species in Aspergillus Fumigatus.

BACKGROUND

Fungal keratitis is a severe vision-threatening corneal infection with a prognosis influenced by fungal virulence and the host's immune defense mechanisms. However, there is still a lack of effective drugs that attenuate fungal virulence while relieving the inflammatory response caused by fungal keratitis.

PURPOSE: Finding an effective treatment to solve these problems is particularly important.

METHODS

We synthesized Zeolitic imidazolate framework-90 (ZIF-90) by water-based synthesis method and characterized it. In vitro experiments included mycelium electron microscopy, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). These trials verified the disruptive effects of ZIF-90 on morphology, cell membrane, cell wall, and biofilm formation of Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus). These experiments also demonstrated the impact of ZIF-90 on the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Moreover, the effect of ZIF-90 on mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) of cells and fungi was verified by MitoSOX Red Mitochondrial Superoxide Indicator (MitoSOX). In vivo, corneal toxicity test, establishment and treatment of mycotic keratitis mouse model, and immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate the efficacy of ZIF-90 in the procedure of fungal keratitis. In addition, to investigate whether the metal-ligand zinc and the organic ligand imidazole acted as essential factors in ZIF-90, we investigated the in vitro antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of ZIF-8, ZIF-67 and Metal-Organic Frameworks-74 (Zn) (MOF-74 (Zn)) by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and ELISA experiments.

RESULTS

ZIF-90 has therapeutic effects on fungal keratitis, which could break the protective organelles of A. fumigatus, such as the cell wall. In addition, ZIF-90 can also be targeted to increase the amount of mtROS in fungi and promote apoptosis of macrophages. The results demonstrated that both zinc ions and imidazole possessed antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, ZIF-90 exhibited better antifungal properties than ZIF-8, ZIF-67, and MOF-74 (Zn).