title: Crucial role of corneal lymphangiogenesis for allograft rejection in alkali-burned cornea bed.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To examine the time course of hemangiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, inflammation after corneal alkaline burns and compare with the importance of corneal hemangiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and inflammation in allograft rejection on alkali-burned cornea bed, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat corneal hemangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis were examined by whole mount immunofluorescence and double enzyme-histochemistry, and the state of corneal inflammation was evaluated by inflammation index scoring and histopathology. Then, corneal transplantations were divided into six groups and performed before the burn (group A) and on day 3 (group B), 2 weeks (group C), 5 weeks (group D), 6 weeks (group E) and 8 weeks (group F) after alkaline burns, respectively. The immune rejection of grafts was evaluated by interferon-gamma, interleukin-2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and slit-lamp examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both corneal lymphatic and blood vessels reached the top 2 weeks after the burn. Corneal lymphangiogenesis disappeared 5 weeks after the burn, and corneal hemangiogenesis regressed completely 3 weeks later. Corneal inflammation was strong on day 3, but resolved 6 weeks after the burn. Compared with other groups, the mean survival time of groups B (4.67 +/- 1.03 days) and C (5.00 +/- 0.63 days) was significantly shorter (P < 0.05). The difference of mean survival time of grafts between group D (9.50 +/- 1.05 days) and group E (9.83 +/- 0.75 days), between group D and group F (10.00 +/- 0.89 days) was not significant (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Corneal lymphangiogenesis presents for a shorter duration than corneal hemangiogenesis or corneal inflammation but plays a crucial role in allograft rejection on alkali-burned cornea bed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Guangzhou Children's Hospital, Guangzhou, China. lingshiqi123@163.com
authors.forename: Shiqi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Caoxiu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jiangang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Wenghui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kuang
mesh_terms: D000468:Alkalies / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D000468:Alkalies; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma