[Relationship between corneal neovascularization and various relevant biological factors in surrounding cornea stroma of rats].
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between corneal neovascularization and various biological factors in corneal stroma of rats.


METHODS
It was an experimental study. Corneal neovascularization was induced by alkali burn in 40 rats. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and fibroblast activation protein (FAP) in the stroma surrounding corneal neovascularization were detected by immunohistochemical studies on day 1, 3 and 7 after chemical burn. Platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31) was used to identify the vascular endothelial cells. RT-PCR was used to identify FAP in the cornea 3 and 7 days after chemical burn. Picrosirius staining and polarization microscopy were used to detect changes of collagen types I and III in the cornea.


RESULTS
After alkali burn, TGF-beta1 was first expressed in the cornea stroma. Then, some stroma cells expressed both alpha-SMA and FAP. The FAP(+) keratocytes were found surrounding the CD31(+) endothelium of angiogenesis. RT-PCR study showed that FAP mRNA was only present in neovascularized cornea and not in normal cornea. Polarization microscopy revealed that the collagen types I and III were rearranged in neovascularized cornea.


CONCLUSIONS
Various biological factors in corneal stroma are changed when the cornea shows neovascularization. FAP(+) keratocytes are present in the stroma, and the appearance of these cells parallels the growth of vascular endothelial cells. Collagen types I and III are rearranged during the process of angiogenesis.
Wang
Ting
T
Shandong Eye Institute, Qingdao 266071, China.
Shi
Wei-yun
WY
Li
Su-xia
SX
Liu
Ming-na
MN
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000378:metabolism*; D010450:Endopeptidases; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D000099167:Fibroblast Activation Protein Alpha
D000199:Actins; D010450:Endopeptidases; D018093:Gelatinases; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000099167:Fibroblast Activation Protein Alpha