Effect and mechanism of L-carnitine on corneal epithelial repair after alkali burn

AIM: To investigate the effect of L-carnitine(LC)on corneal epithelial repair and its regulatory molecular mechanism in the hypertonic and inflammatory environment caused by alkali burn.METHODS: Ninety-six healthy C57/6J mice were randomly divided into blank control group, phosphate buffered solution(PBS)group and LC group. The blank control group did not receive any treatment, LC group and PBS group were prepared acute alkali burn models. LC group was given 60mmol/L LC eye drops, and PBS group was given PBS eye drops, 6 times/d, for continuous days from one day before alkali burn. The repair of corneal epithelium was observed by fluorescein sodium staining under slit lamp microscope at 0h, 3 and 7d. On the 3d, the expressions of Ki-67 and IL-1β proteins in cornea were detected by immunofluorescence, the total proteins of corneal epithelial were extracted for Western blot to detect the expression of P63, NLRP3, Caspase-1 and phosphorylation level of STAT3.RESULTS: The results of corneal fluorescein sodium staining showed that on the 3 and 7d after alkali burn, the percentage of residual corneal epithelial defect area in PBS group compared with LC group was(29.38±6.83)% vs(17.78±4.11)% and(14.23±4.51)% vs(4.10±2.10)%, respectively(P