Drug-Repurposing Strategy for Dimethyl Fumarate

In the area of drug discovery, repurposing strategies represent an approach to discover new uses approved drugs besides their original indications. We used this investigate effects dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a for relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis and psoriasis treatment, on early injury associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). in vivo streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat model. Diabetes was induced by single injection STZ rats, after 1 week, group animals treated daily intraperitoneal DMF or vehicle. Three weeks diabetes induction, retinal expression levels key enzymes involved DR were evaluated. particular, biomarkers COX-2, iNOS, HO-1 assessed via Western blot immunohistochemistry analysis. Diabetic rats showed significant upregulation COX-2 iNOS compared retina normal (non-diabetic), increase also observed group. This latter result due mechanism protection elicited pathological condition. treatment significantly STZ-induced reduction levels. Taken together, these results suggested that might be useful counteract inflammatory process oxidative response DR. conclusion, we believe represents potential candidate treat warrants further clinical evaluation.