Abstract
Purpose: :
The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of lymphatic vessels (lymphangiogenesis) in mediating immunological responses after transplantation and evaluate the efficacy of SiRNA as a inhibitor of corneal lymphangiogenesis in a rat model of corneal graft.
Methods: :
Using the murine model of corneal transplantation, graft survival was compared. Corneas of Brown-Norway rats (donors) were transplanted to Lewis rats (recipients). Thirty six rats underwent corneal transplantation and were randomized into three groups (n=12 in each group). G1, G2 and G3 received subconjunctival injections of PBS, anti-VEGF and Prox1 SiRNA, respectively. Grafts were scored for corneal transparency, edema and extent of lymphangiogenesis.
Results: :
About 72.7 % of corneal transplants in the G1 were rejected by 2 weeks after transplantation. However, in the G2 and G3 group, 30.0% and 36.4% of corneal grafts were rejected. Histology confirmed the clinical results. The mean surfaces of lymphatic vessels were significantly reduced in groups treated with anti-VEGF and Prox1 SiRNA.
Conclusions: :
Lymphatic vessels seem to contribute significantly to graft rejection after corneal transplantation. Prox1 SiRNA is shown to inhibit lymphangiogenesis in allogeneic corneal grafts. Subconjunctival administrations of Prox1 SiRNA is efficient to delay the corneal graft rejection processes occurring after allogeneic corneal grafts in rats.
Keywords: transplantation