title: Inhibition of corneal neovascularization by genetic ablation of CCR2.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if genetic ablation of the chemokine receptor CCR2 (involved in leukocyte and endothelial chemotaxis) inhibits the development of corneal neovascularization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wild-type C57BL/6J mice, as well as species-specific counterparts with targeted homozygous disruption of the CCR2, underwent chemical and mechanical denudation of corneal and limbal epithelium. Corneas were harvested 2 weeks after injury. Neovascularization was quantified by CD31 immunostaining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean percentages of neovascularized corneal area in control mice and CCR2-deficient mice 2 weeks after denudation were 58.3% and 38.8% (P = 0.047), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Development of corneal neovascularization is inhibited in CCR2-deficient mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, 30907, USA. bambati@mail.mcg.edu
authors.forename: Balamurali K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ambati
authors.forename: Antonia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Joussen
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Kuziel
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Adamis
authors.forename: Jayakrishna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ambati
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000098:blood supply*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D054390:Receptors, CCR2; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C515335:Ccr2 protein, mouse; D054390:Receptors, CCR2; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine