Increase in orthotopic murine corneal transplantation rejection rate with anterior synechiae.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the immunologic effect of anterior synechiae (AS) in a murine model of corneal transplantation.


METHODS
Orthotopic penetrating keratoplasty with 12 interrupted sutures was performed on C57BL/6 donor mice and BALB/c recipient mice without AS (AS- group). In contrast to suturing in the AS- group, 3 of the 12 sutures were placed to create AS (AS+ group). The average graft opacity scores and rejection rates of both groups were compared. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) reactions and delayed hypersensitivity (DH) were evaluated 3 weeks after transplantation. Corneal cytokine expression was evaluated.


RESULTS
The opacity scores of the AS+ group were consistently greater than those of the AS- group, and the rejection rate of the AS+ group was significantly greater than that of the AS- group (86% versus 54%, P = 0.03). The AS+ group had significantly higher CTL activity compared with the AS- group. There was no significant difference in DH between the two groups. The cytokine expression pattern in the AS+ group became similar to that of the AS- group in which the grafts were rejected.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that AS impairs ocular immune privilege by mediating CTL activity, but without intensifying the DH response. Therefore, AS is a critical risk factor in allograft rejection in a murine model of corneal transplantation.
Yamagami
S
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan. yamagami@vision.eri.harvard.edu
Tsuru
T
T
D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000209:etiology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007499:Iris Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012307:Risk Factors; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D000267:Tissue Adhesions
D016207:Cytokines