Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine the efficacy of topical application of infliximab (TNF-αmonoclonal antibody) for the treatment of corneal neovascularization in the rabbit model.
Methods: :
With the subject of 12 rabbits (24 eyes), the cornea stroma was sutured to induce corneal neovascularization. 1 week after suture, the corneal neovascularization was confirmed, after which the subjects were divided into 4 groups of 3 rabbits, and the control group was applied sterilized balanced salt solution, and the experiment group was treated with infliximab eye drop of varying concentrations of 1mg/ml, 2mg/ml, 4mg/ml for twice a day for a week. For each group, the area of corneal neovascularization at day 3 and day 7 were measured and analyzed. At day 7, all eyes were extracted to compare the TNF-α mRNA concentration by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and the VEGF activity of corneal neovascular tissue was observed by fluorescence immunostain.
Results: :
The area of corneal neovascularization on day 7 was significantly reduced in all three groups treated with 1mg/ml, 2mg/ml, and 4mg/ml compared to the control group (p=0.043, p=0.027, p=0.01). On day 7 of the treatment, TNF-α mRNA was significantly reduced in all three groups treated with 1mg/ml, 2mg/ml, and 4mg/ml compared to the control group(p=0.038, p=0.031, p=0.022). Also, in the fluorescence immunostain, the reduced expression of VEGF was confirmed in all three groups compared to the control group.
Conclusions: :
The application of Infliximab is expected to effectively inhibit the corneal neovascularization, and further studies for clinical application shall be necessary.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium • neovascularization