title: Clinical and experimental research of corneal lymphangiogenesis after keratoplasty.
abstract: The objective of this study is to provide further evidence that corneal lymphangiogenesis occurs after keratoplasty, and to explore the association of corneal hemangiogenesis, corneal inflammation and transplantation history with corneal lymphangiogenesis. Rat corneal lymphangiogenesis was examined by electron microscopy, lymphatic vessel endothelial receptor (LYVE-1) immunohistochemistry, and whole-mount immunofluorescence at 1, 3, 7, 10 and 14 days after corneal transplantation. Blood and lymphatic vessels in human transplanted corneas were identified by LYVE-1 and CD(31) immunohistochemistry, then the association between corneal blood vessel counting, inflammatory index and transplantation history with the lymphatic vessel counting was examined. The results showed that corneal lymphangiogenesis was present in all rat corneas and 26% of human transplanted corneas. Lymphatic vessel counting was significantly associated with blood vessel counting, inflammatory index and transplantation history (all p values <0.0001). We conclude that corneal lymphangiogenesis develops after keratoplasty, and is strongly associated with hemangiogenesis, inflammation and the history of transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Guangzhou Children's Hospital, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Shiqi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Haotian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Daoman
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Guangqiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Xuefei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000098:blood supply*; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C119248:LYVE1 protein, human; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins