Complement-derived anaphylatoxins in human donor corneas treated with excimer laser.
OBJECTIVE
An inflammatory response produced by excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) may be associated with the subsequent corneal haze and regressions in refractive error observed after treatment. Complement-derived anaphylatoxins, potent mediators of inflammation, may have a role in postoperative healing.


METHODS
Twenty right human donor corneas underwent a 6-D excimer laser PRK treatment. The corresponding left donor corneas served as the controls. After incubation in tissue culture media for 6 hours and elution in phosphate-buffered saline with EDTA for 24 hours, complement-derived anaphylatoxins C3a, C4a, and C5a were measured in corneal eluates by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
Compared with control corneas, the excimer PRK corneas failed to demonstrate a significant increase in C3a, C4a, or C5a levels (P > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the excimer laser at this dose does not activate significant complement in the cornea.
Gardner
B P
BP
Department of Ophthalmology, UCLA School of Medicine, USA.
Pleyer
U
U
Mondino
B J
BJ
Sumner
H L
HL
Frieberg
M L
ML
Imperia
P S
PS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000706:Anaphylatoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002648:Child; D003167:Complement Activation; D015926:Complement C3a / Q000032:analysis; D015934:Complement C4a / Q000032:analysis; D015936:Complement C5a / Q000032:analysis; D003315:Cornea / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008875:Middle Aged; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D000706:Anaphylatoxins; D015926:Complement C3a; D015934:Complement C4a; D015936:Complement C5a