[Effect of ultraviolet-B irradiation pretreatment on a second-set rejection model of orthotopic corneal grafts].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of ultraviolet-B irradiation (UV-B) on the donor cornea in a second-set rejection model of rat orthotopic corneal transplantation.


METHODS
Three patterns of fully mismatched allogeneic bilateral orthotopic corneal transplantations (DA to AO) after 10-week interval were studied: Untreated primary corneal grafts into the right eyes followed by untreated secondary grafts into the left eyes, UV-B treated primary corneal grafts into the right eyes followed by untreated secondary grafts into the left eyes, and untreated primary corneal grafts into the right eyes followed by UV-B treated secondary grafts into the left eyes.


RESULTS
The rejection of untreated secondary grafts was hastened in recipients who had previously rejected untreated primary grafts (p = 0.00507). Recipients bearing long-surviving UV-B pretreated corneal grafts rejected secondary untreated corneal grafts at the first-set tempo. Recipients who had previously rejected untreated primary grafts rejected UV-B pretreated secondary grafts at the first-set tempo.


CONCLUSIONS
The UV-B pretreatment to donor corneas may induce dysfunction of antigen presentation so that the recipients' immune system fails to be sensitized in second-set phenomena.
Katami
Mutsuo
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Japan.
Minamoto
Atsushi
A
D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy