Introduction
diabetic retinopathy, dry eye disease, neurosensory abnormalities, inflammation, uveitis, disease of the ocular surface, hyperosmolarity
DIABETIC RETINOPATHY, DRY EYE, INFLAMMATION, UVEITIS, EYE DISEASES
The melanocortins are a family of hormone agonists that include α-β-γ-melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSH) and adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH).The melanocortin system is important in regulating immune activity in the eye as α-MSH, by binding to MC1R, MC3R, and MC5R receptors and, through its effect on macrophages, antigen presenting cells, and antigen-specific T cells, suppresses inflammation and promotes inflammatory resolution.The melanocortin pathway is therefore a potentially attractive target for new, nonsteroidal alternatives for the treatment of inflammatory eye diseases such as dry eye disease (DED) and uveitis, in addition to treating diabetic retinopathy and it has a role in aiding successful corneal transplantation.Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface characterized by a loss of homeostasis of the tear film, and accompanied by ocular symptoms, in which tear film instability and hyperosmolarity, ocular surface inflammation and damage, and neurosensory abnormalities play etiological roles.