New research has revealed that the drug known as disulfiram, which is licensed for the control of alcohol abuse, can be used to prevent conjunctival scarring and treat a blinding disorder.

Disulfiram blocks aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, including ALDH2, which processes alcohol.

During the study, researchers identified a gene that causes scarring, together with a rapidly translatable therapy, for the most common cause of blinding conjunctivitis in the UK.

The study results demonstrated that the ALDH1 family of enzymes is more active in tissue and fibroblasts from people with ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid when compared to controls.

ALDH1 is an enzyme significant for one step in the process of transforming vitamin A into retinoic acid, which is a major protein in immunity, inflammation and scarring.

The researchers then administered eye drops containing disulfiram in mice for seven days after the induction of immune mediated conjunctivitis. It was found that the drug helped reduce eye surface inflammation and prevented scarring compared to controls.

The study results reveal that disulfiram normalises human and mouse scar making cell (fibroblast) functions, and also inhibits mouse ocular mucosal (conjunctival) scarring, which causes chronic pain and sight loss.

UCL institute of ophthalmology director Phil Luthert said: “Scarring remains a major problem in eye disease, and in many other conditions, and uncontrolled conjunctival fibrosis is terrible to live with.

“This breakthrough offers new hope and is a great example of how discovery science can come together with smart repurposing of existing drugs to reach a solution for patients.”

Funding for the study was provided by Fight for Sight, the University College London (UCL) business, Moorfields Eye Charity.

The conjunctiva is the membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the eye, and additionally helps to lubricate and protect it.

However, in the case of ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid (ocular pemphigoid), severe eye allergy, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and trachoma inflammation trigger rapid pathological scarring, which often persists after the inflammation has gone, thereby destroying the protective functions of the conjunctiva.