title: Short-term Efficacy of Topical Immunosuppressive Agents on the Survival of Cultivated Allo-Conjunctival Equivalents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the short-term efficacy of topical immunosuppressive agents on the survival of cultivated allo-conjunctival equivalents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five eyes of New Zealand white rabbits were included. Temporal conjunctivae were trephined to a diameter of 7.5 mm, and then cultured allo-conjunctival epithelial cells on amniotic membrane were transplanted onto them. Various immunosuppressants including steroid, cyclosporine, and rapamycin were applied topically four times a day for a week. Epithelial defects and graft edema were graded daily. Numbers of inflammatory cells were measured in H&E. PKH26 and cytokeratin 4 and 7 were immunostained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Earlier epithelialization was observed in 1% steroid-treated eyes and defects persisted significantly in 0.5% CsA applied eyes. In histology, PKH26 positive cells considered as donor cells were only found in 1% steroid or 0.01% rapamycin applied eyes. 1% steroid- or 0.01% rapamycin-applied eyes both showed positive staining for keratin-4 and -7. Inflammatory cells were less found in 1% steroid or 0.01% rapamycin treated eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical steroid or rapamycin can help to suppress acute inflammation and enhance the acute survival of transplanted conjunctival cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Mee Kum
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joo Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Won Ryang
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wee
authors.forename: Jin Hak
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jung Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Hyun Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Lim
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byung Moo
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Young Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Sohn
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053527:Keratin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D053552:Keratin-7 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism; D011241:Prednisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D053527:Keratin-4; D053552:Keratin-7; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C070080:PKH 26; D016572:Cyclosporine; D011241:Prednisone; D020123:Sirolimus