Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41660942›Full record

ArticleInvestigative ophthalmology & visual science2026

Mitigation of Oxidative Stress Pathways in the Diabetic Cornea and Lacrimal Glands Contributes to the Rapid Reversal of Diabetic Dry Eye by Naltrexone.

Allison K Krebs, David Diaz, Joseph W Sassani, Ian S Zagon, Patricia J McLaughlin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

5 authors.

Allison K KrebsDepartment of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States.
David DiazDepartment of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States.
Joseph W SassaniDepartment of Ophthalmology and Pathology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States.
Ian S ZagonDepartment of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States.
Patricia J McLaughlinDepartment of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether topical naltrexone (NTX) treatment can decrease the elevated reactive oxygen species pathways and select proinflammatory cytokines in the rat cornea and lacrimal glands that are elevated in diabetic dry eye. Methods: Type 1 diabetic male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were rendered hyperglycemic for 6-8 weeks and then treated topically with NTX eyedrops twice daily for 15 days. Corneal epithelium and lacrimal glands were evaluated for expression of dihydroethidium, C/EBP homologous protein, and NADPH oxidase -2 (NOX-2) as well as the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL) -1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) to identify pathways targeted in the mitigation of diabetic dry eye. Results: Type 1 diabetes resulted in dry eye and corneal surface insensitivity, accompanied by increased levels of oxidative stress and inflammation mediators in both corneal epithelium and lacrimal glands. Topical NTX treatment restored tear volume and corneal surface sensitivity, and significantly reduced expression of dihydroethidium, C/EBP homologous protein, and NOX-2, as well as proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in male and female diabetic rats. Conclusions: Blockade of the opioid growth factor (OGF)-OGF receptor system with topical NTX rapidly reversed diabetic dry eye and restored corneal surface sensitivity. The mechanism involved downregulating oxidative stress and decreasing proinflammatory cytokines to levels at or below those of nondiabetic rats of the same sex. These findings support a mechanistic role for OGF receptor blockade in the reversal of diabetic dry eye.

Indexed as

CorneaDiabetes Mellitus, ExperimentalDry Eye SyndromesLacrimal ApparatusNaltrexoneNarcotic AntagonistsOxidative StressAnimalsCytokinesDiabetes Mellitus, Type 1FemaleMaleOphthalmic SolutionsRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyReactive Oxygen SpeciesCytokinesNaltrexoneNarcotic AntagonistsOphthalmic SolutionsReactive Oxygen Species

Identifiers

PMID41660942
PMCPMC12898921

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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.