Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: The regulatory molecules within the eye which provide for the immune privileged state that permits corneal transplantation are incompletely characterized. Decay accelerating factor (DAF or CD55) is an intrinsic regulator that protects self cells from autologous complement attack. Previous studies (IOVS, 31:1136) have shown that it is expressed on both corneal epithelium and endothelium. To better characterize the role of DAF in conferring immune privilege, we studied murine corneal transplantation with DAF knock–out mice. Methods: We transplanted Daf1–/– corneas into wild type (WT) controls and visa–versa (all on the same C57B6/129 mixed background), and monitored the time to and severity of graft rejection. Results: Rejection grades of WT corneas transplanted into other WT mice at 3, 7 and 14 days were 1.1, 2.5 and 3.6, respectively. In contrast, rejection grades of Daf1–/– corneas transplanted into WT recipients and WT corneas into Daf1–/– recipients were significantly greater. Daf1–/– corneas in WT mice showed grades of 3.3, 4.0, and 4.1 at 3, 7, and 14 days, and WT corneas in Daf1–/– mice showed grades of 1.0, 3.5, and 4.7 respectively. Conclusions: The results argue that DAF plays an important role in supporting early murine graft survivability. Acknowledgements: Supported in part by EY11288, AI23568 (MEM), P30 EY11373 and Research to Prevent Blindness (JHL) and the late Dr. Milton Singer.
Keywords: cornea: basic science • immune tolerance/privilege • transplantation