[The corneal allograft rejection features in CD4 and CD8 knock-out mice].
OBJECTIVE
To study the mechanism and the features of corneal allograft rejection using a model of CD4 and CD8 knock-out mice.


METHODS
The mice were divided into three groups with 20 mice in each group. CD4 knock-out mice, CD8 knock-out mice and C57BL/6 mice were used as recipients and BALB/c mice as corneal graft donors. Postoperative evaluation included slit-lamp biomicroscopy and immunohistological studies. The rejection times were recorded and the cytokines in the eye after the surgery were measured at 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after the transplantation. Thirty mice (each group ten mice) received skin transplantation using BALB/c as donors in the second week after penetrating keratoplasty. The time of skin grafts rejection was recorded and the cornea grafts were inspected when the skin grafts were rejected.


RESULTS
The rejection time varied in these three groups. The corneal grafts in CD4 knock-out mice were clear and no rejection occurred > 90 days. The corneal grafts in CD8 knock out mice were rejected at (28 +/- 3) days. The grafts in the control groups were rejected at (14 +/- 2) days (F = 2034, P < 0.01). The skin grafts rejection were recorded at (14 +/- 2), (12 +/- 1), (10 +/- 1) days in CD4 knock-out mice, CD8 knock-out mice and control groups, respectively (F = 42.54, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
CD4 and CD8 knock-out mice are useful models for studying of corneal graft rejection. The cornea allograft rejection after penetrating keratoplasty is mediated primarily by CD(4)(+) T lymphocytes. The CD(8)(+) T lymphocytes also participate in the rejection processes.
Shi
Wei-Yun
WY
Qingdao Eye Hospital,Shandong Eye Institute, Qingdao 266071, China.
Xie
Li-Xin
LX
D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006085:Graft Survival; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens