Tumor necrosis factor alpha (rhTNF) fails to stimulate angiogenesis in the rabbit cornea.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to thoroughly examine the in vivo angiogenesis activity of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha (rhTNF).


METHODS
rhTNF (0.5 ng to 1.0 microgram) was incorporated into the slow release polymers Hydron or HYPAN and implanted into the rabbit cornea. Release of biologically active rhTNF from the polymers was determined with the L929 cytotoxicity assay.


RESULTS
All concentrations tested failed to elicit capillary formation beyond that observed for controls. Less than 2% of the rhTNF was released from the Hydron over 7 days. HYPAN released five times the amount of rhTNF in vitro, but even at doses of 500 ng (104.3 ng suggested release) no angiogenesis was stimulated.


CONCLUSIONS
Under the circumstances tested, rhTNF is not angiogenic in vivo.
Phillips
G D
GD
National Reparative Medicine Foundation, St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55416, USA.
Stone
A M
AM
Schultz
J C
JC
Jones
B D
BD
Lisowski
M J
MJ
Goodkin
M L
ML
Knighton
D R
DR
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005260:Female; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha