Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28339457›Full record

ArticlePloS one2017

Targeted AAV5-Smad7 gene therapy inhibits corneal scarring in vivo.

Suneel Gupta, Jason T Rodier, Ajay Sharma, Elizabeth A Giuliano, Prashant R Sinha, Nathan P Hesemann, Arkasubhra Ghosh, Rajiv R Mohan

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 63 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
63citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
5.8field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

63 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 80 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Cell and Gene Therapy in Equine Ocular Disease.Veterinary ophthalmology · 2026
    Review
  6. Long-Term Tolerability and Safety of AAV5-Id3 Gene Therapy to Eyes.Translational vision science & technology · 2026
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Review
  10. Fenofibrate in ophthalmology: therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms.Journal of pharmacy & pharmaceutical sciences : a publication of the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Societe canadienne des sciences pharmaceutiques · 2026
    Review
  11. Review
  12. Review
  13. Effect of Chemical Injury on Autophagy in Canine Corneal Stromal Fibroblasts.Journal of ocular pharmacology and therapeutics : the official journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics · 2025
    Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article

3 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Suneel GuptaHarry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America.
Jason T RodierHarry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America.
Ajay SharmaHarry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America.
Elizabeth A GiulianoHarry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America.
Prashant R SinhaHarry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America.
Nathan P HesemannHarry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America.
Arkasubhra GhoshGROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Rajiv R MohanHarry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America.
Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital · USMissouri College · USUniversity of Missouri · USNarayana Nethralaya · IN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Corneal scarring is due to aberrant activity of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathway following traumatic, mechanical, infectious, or surgical injury. Altered TGFβ signaling cascade leads to downstream Smad (Suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic) protein-mediated signaling events that regulate expression of extracellular matrix and myogenic proteins. These events lead to transdifferentiation of keratocytes into myofibroblasts through fibroblasts and often results in permanent corneal scarring. Hence, therapeutic targets that reduce transdifferentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts may provide a clinically relevant approach to treat corneal fibrosis and improve long-term visual outcomes. Smad7 protein regulates the functional effects of TGFβ signaling during corneal wound healing. We tested that targeted delivery of Smad7 using recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 5 (AAV5-Smad7) delivered to the corneal stroma can inhibit corneal haze post photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in vivo in a rabbit corneal injury model. We demonstrate that a single topical application of AAV5-Smad7 in rabbit cornea post-PRK led to a significant decrease in corneal haze and corneal fibrosis. Further, histopathology revealed lack of immune cell infiltration following AAV5-Smad7 gene transfer into the corneal stroma. Our data demonstrates that AAV5-Smad7 gene therapy is relatively safe with significant potential for the treatment of corneal disease currently resulting in fibrosis and impaired vision.

Indexed as

AnimalsCell TransdifferentiationCorneaCorneal InjuriesDependovirusDisease Models, AnimalFibrosisGenetic TherapyRabbitsSmad7 ProteinSmad7 Protein

Identifiers

PMID28339457
PMCPMC5365107
OpenAlexW2597669146

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC0
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.