Abstract
Abstract
Purpose:
To explore the inhibitory effects of antivascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) therapy on corneal lymphangiogenesis and allograft rejection in rats.
Methods:
Fischer 344 rat corneas were transplanted into Lewis rat eyes. After corneal transplantation, Lewis rats (the recipients) were randomly and equally divided into 2 groups: anti-VEGF-C treatment (group A) and control (group B). Corneal hemangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis were characterized using whole-mount immunofluorescence, and the immune rejection of the grafts was examined using a slit lamp and evaluated by scoring the rejection index (RI). In addition, the expression of VEGF-C was examined by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The association of corneal lymphangiogenesis and hemangiogenesis with VEGF-C in transplanted corneas was also characterized.
Results:
VEGF-C expression was markedly downregulated after anti-VEGF-C therapy. The outgrowth of corneal lymphangiogenesis dramatically decreased in group A. There was a significant relationship between VEGF-C reduction and the decrease in the lymphatic vessel area (r=0.55, P<0.05), whereas the relationship between the reduction of VEGF-C and the decrease in blood vessel area was not significant (r=0.11, P>0.05). In addition, the RI scores were significantly lower in group A compared with group B at 7, 10, and 14 days after transplantation. The graft survival time in group A rats (20.33±1.37 days) was significantly longer than that in group B rats (12.83±1.47 days; P<0.05).
Conclusions:
The results suggested that VEGF-C blockade had a significant role in preventing corneal lymphangiogenesis in corneal beds, which resulted in higher allograft survival rates.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.