Lymphatic vessels correlate closely with inflammation index in alkali burned cornea.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between corneal lymphangiogenesis and inflammation in alkali burned corneas.


METHODS
Rat corneal lymphatic and blood vessels were labeled and distinguished by whole mount immunofluorescence and 5'-nase-alkaline phosphatase (5'-NA-ALP) double enzyme-histochemistry. Then, lymphatic vessel areas (LVA) and lymphatic vessel counting (LVC) were examined. Corneal inflammation was evaluated by inflammation index (IF) grading, histopathology, electron microscope, and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration. The relationship between LVC, LVA, IF, and PMN was examined, respectively. In addition, corneal lymphatic vessels of eleven human alkali burned corneas were examined by lymphatic vessel endothelial receptor (LYVE-1) immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Corneal lymphangiogenesis occurred on Day 3, reached the peak at the end of two weeks, and disappeared five weeks after alkaline burns. Both LVA and LVC were strongly and positively correlated with IF after corneal alkaline burns. However, the relationship between LVC and PMN, between LVA and PMN were significant but converse. Among eleven human alkali burned corneas, corneal lymphangiogenesis was present in three corneas.


CONCLUSIONS
Corneal lymphagiogenesis develops after alkaline burns and correlates closely with corneal inflammation.
Yan
Hao
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Nanshan Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Shenzhen, PR China.
Qi
Chaoxiu
C
Ling
Shiqi
S
Li
Weihua
W
Liang
Linyi
L
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007634:Keratitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide
C533408:Lyve1 protein, rat; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide