Treatment with olopatadine and naphazoline hydrochloride reduces allergic conjunctivitis in mice through alterations in inflammation, NGF and VEGF

The aim of the current study was to investigate whether olopatadine and naphazoline hydrochloride reduce allergic conjunctivitis in mice through alterations in inflammation, NGF and VEGF. An allergic conjunctivitis mouse model was established using histamine or an antigen (ovalbumin), following which mice were treated with 1% olopatadine solution and/or 0.2 mg/ml of naphazoline hydrochloride. Histamine or antigen‑induced conjunctival vascular hyperpermeability was examined and the levels of inflammatory factors, cytokines, IgE, GMCSF and NGF were analyzed using ELISA in antigen‑induced conjunctival vascular hyperpermeability mice. In addition, VEGF protein expression was measured using western blotting in antigen‑induced mice. The results indicated that olopatadine and naphazoline hydrochloride significantly suppressed conjunctival dye leakage in mice with histamine or antigen‑induced conjunctival vascular hyperpermeability. In addition, treatment with olopatadine and naphazoline hydrochloride was able to reduce the levels of inflammatory factors (TNF‑α, IL‑1β and IL‑6), cytokines (IFN‑γ and IL‑4), IgE, GMCSF, and NGF in antigen‑induced conjunctival vascular hyperpermeability mice. The protein expression levels of VEGF in antigen‑induced conjunctival vascular hyperpermeability mice were reduced following treatment with olopatadine and naphazoline hydrochloride. These results suggest that treatment with olopatadine and naphazoline hydrochloride reduces conjunctivitis in mice via effects on inflammation, NGF and VEGF.