Iritis

Iritis, a major inflammatory condition involving the eye's iris, is a profound challenge to eye health. Protheragen offers a suite of services designed to accelerate the development of innovative diagnostics and therapeutics for iritis.

Introduction to Iritis

Iritis, which is the sone of anterior uveitis, involves the irritation of the iris region of the eye. It is the most common subtype of uveitis, comprising about half of all uveitis cases. The condition typically presents as a painful, red eye with photophobia and tearing. Both acute and chronic forms of iritis exist, but the most common form is acute anterior uveitis (AAU). The causes of iritis are many, including autoimmune conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis and sarcoidosis, as well as infectious roots including herpes, toxoplasmosis, traumas, and even some caused by medical intervention.

Fig.1 A case of histopathological analysis of iritis. (Taniya Bhoopat, 2021)

Diagnostics Development for Iritis

• Laboratory Diagnostics
  Iritis is caused by factors and pathologies that need to be identified first. Complete blood counts (CBCs), C-reactive protein (CRP) tests, and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) tests are useful alongside blood tests to detect inflammation. Other important tests include autoimmune markers such as HLA B27 and anti-nuclear antibodies, as well as infectious ones like herpes simplex virus and toxoplasma.
• Genetic Diagnostics
  Genetic testing for HLA-B27 is especially vital with cases suffering from idiopathic iritis because the HLA-B27 gene may determine the presence of candidates at high risk for recurrent episodes of iritis as well as for developing systemic associated disorders. This information helps both in formulating an accurate diagnosis as well as managing the underlying condition.

Therapeutics Development for Iritis

Topical Therapies

For acute iritis, topical corticosteroids are widely accepted as the primary form of therapeutics. They assist in lowering inflammation as well as mitigating posterior synechiae and secondary cataracts. Additionally, pupils are frequently dilated to relieve pain, as well as with cycloplegic agents.

Systemic Therapies

In more severe or refractory cases systematic therapeutics with corticosteroids and immunosupression may be indicated. The therapy sought is to control diffuse inflammation and recurrence, as well. Otheragents, including biologics, are being studied for their chronic or refractory uveitis management for its useful effects, such as TNF inhibiting factors.

Emerging Therapies

Iritis continues to be researched with the goal of developing new therapeutic methods; for example, some of the efforts focus on utilizing small molecules that target specific inflammatory pathways as well as investigative gene therapy. Such novel therapies could significantly improve the targeted therapeutics of iritis in the future.

Our Services

Acknowledging the distinctive requirements of every client, particular research services designed to cater to specific problems in iritis diagnostics and therapeutics development are offered. We utilize our vast experience in drug discovery and development to devise and refine therapeutic strategies for therapeutics. Our services also span target identification, assay development, and preclinical testing of new therapies.

Diagnostics Development

• Karyotype Analysis Service
• Omics Analysis Service
• Biomarker Development Service
• Artificial Intelligence Service

Therapeutic Development

• Small Molecule Drug
• Cell Therapy
• Gene Therapy
• Therapeutic Antibody
• Therapeutic Peptide
• Therapeutic Protein

Preclinical Research

• Pharmacodynamics Study Services
• Pharmacokinetics Study Services
• Drug Safety Evaluation Services

Disease Models

• Iris, Ciliary Body, or Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) Cell Models
• Retinal Organoid Models
• Endotoxin-Induced Models
• Experimental Autoimmune Anterior Uveitis (EAAU) Models
• Transgenic Mouse Expressing a TCR Specific for IRBP161−180

Protheragen's preclinical research services are aimed at expediting the therapeutic development process pertaining to iritis. We offer a variety of services such as in vitro as well as in vivo evaluation of the therapeutic's safety and efficiency. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.

Reference

• Taniya Bhoopat. "An unusual presentation of microsporidial keratitis as iritis without corneal lesion: A case report." The THAI Journal of OPHTHALMOLOGY 35.1 (2021): 19-24.