title: Early expression of tumor necrosis factor α and nuclear factor kappa B after Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate immune rejection after Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) compared with that after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) in New Zealand rabbit eyes and to identify the relationship between tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and evaluate their involvement in graft rejection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-nine New Zealand rabbits were divided into 3 groups: group A comprised the control group, which did not undergo either of the procedures; group B underwent DSEK; and group C underwent PKP. Twenty-three Chinese rabbits (46 eyes) were used as donors. The corneal transparency, graft placement, and anterior chamber were observed for 28 days. Blood serum, aqueous humor, and corneal samples were obtained on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after the procedures. TNF-α levels were measured weekly by double-antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. NFκB in the cornea was checked by immunofluorescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no graft rejections in group B. Group C showed a 50% rejection frequency with an increase in both the TNF-α concentrations and NFκB expression observed at 7 days and peak levels observed at 28 days after PKP. TNF-α concentrations did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between groups B and A. NFκB expression was slightly increased at 7 days and returned to normal levels by day 14 after DSEK.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rabbits with DSEK had a lower rejection rate than rabbits with PKP. NFκB and TNF-α may contribute to the early rejection of corneal allografts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Li-jing
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism; D057111:Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000097:blood*; D011817:Rabbits; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha