rki-1447 and Glaucoma--Open-Angle

This study investigated the hypotensive effect of RKI-1447, a Rho kinase inhibitor, in a porcine ex vivo pigmentary glaucoma model.. Compared to baseline, the perfusion of pigment caused a significant increase in IOP in the RKI-1447 group (P = 0.003) at 48 h. Subsequent treatment with RKI-1447 significantly reduced IOP from 20.14 ± 2.59 to 13.38 ± 0.91 mmHg (P = 0.02). Pigment perfusion reduced the outflow facility from 0.27 ± 0.03 at baseline to 0.18 ± 0.02 at 48 h (P < 0.001). This was partially reversed with RKI-1447. RKI-1447 caused no apparent histological changes in the micro- or macroscopic TM appearance. RKI-1447-treated primary TM cells showed significant disruption of the actin cytoskeleton both in the presence and absence of pigment (P < 0.001) but no effect on TM migration was observed. Pigment-treated TM cells exhibited a reduction in TM phagocytosis, which RKI-1447 reversed.. RKI-1447 significantly reduces IOP by disrupting TM stress fibers and increasing TM phagocytosis. These features may make it useful for the treatment of secondary glaucomas with an increased phagocytic load.

Topics: Animals; Cells, Cultured; Disease Models, Animal; Glaucoma, Open-Angle; Intraocular Pressure; Ocular Hypotension; Phagocytosis; rho-Associated Kinases; Stress Fibers; Swine; Thiazoles; Trabecular Meshwork; Urea