Abstract
Purpose:
To determine the levels of VEGF, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D from aqueous humor samples in an E.coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced model of uveitis in rabbits.
Methods:
Uveitis was induced by intravitreal (IVT) injection of LPS into the right eye(OD) of New Zealand Rabbits (NZW). The left eye (OS) received an IVT injection of vehicle. At 24 hours post injection rabbits were evaluated by an ophthalmic exam and the aqueous humor (AH) collected for cell counts and protein. VEGF, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D were quantitated in AH using a Meso Scale Drug Discovery (MSD) electrochemiluminescent ELISA.
Results:
Ophthalmic exams of LPS treated rabbit eyes (OD) indicated substantial inflammation compared to control eyes (OS). Cell counts from OS eyes were very low or undetectable and increased to 2.1 x 106 cells/ml of AH in OD eyes. Protein from OS eyes averaged 3.2 mg/ml and increased to 32.9 mg/ml in OD eyes. VEGF and VEGF-C were below detection limits in OS eyes and increased to 7.1 pg/ml and 75.5 pg/ml, respectively, in OD eyes. VEGF-D in OS eyes averaged 96.0 pg/ml and increased to 853 pg/ml in OD eyes.
Conclusions:
VEGF, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D levels increased significantly in LPS treated eyes of NZW and are indicative of an inflammatory response. Ophthalmic exams, cell counts, and protein increases in LPS treated eyes support increased inflammation in this rabbit model of uveitis. The significantly increased levels of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in AH are new findings.
Keywords: 748 vascular endothelial growth factor •
543 growth factors/growth factor receptors