The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C in transplanted corneas.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) after keratoplasty in rats.


METHODS
The Fischer 344 rat corneas were transplanted into Lewis rat eyes. The expression of VEGF-C in cornea was examined by immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. The association of corneal lymphangiogenesis, corneal inflammation, and rejection score (RS), with VEGF-C in transplanted corneas was also examined.


RESULTS
Both VEGF-C protein and mRNA upregulated dramatically in rat transplanted corneas. The immunoreactivity was at peak on the 3rd day and the 14th day after keratoplasty, respectively. VEGF-C mRNA was strongly and positively correlated with inflammatory index (IF) (r = 0.93; p < 0.01), lymphatic vessel counting (LVC) (r = 0.40; p < 0.05), and RS (r = 0.50; p < 0.05). The development of VEGF-C mRNA, IF, and RS was almost parallel in the second week after keratoplasty.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-C was expressed in rat transplanted corneas. The expression of VEGF-C correlated closely with corneal inflammation, corneal lymphangiogenesis, and allograft rejection.
Ling
Shiqi
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Guangzhou Children's Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China. lingshiqi123@163.com
Qi
Chaoxiu
C
Li
Wei
W
Xu
Jiangang
J
Kuang
Wenghui
W
D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007634:Keratitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C