title: Allograft survival enhancement using doxycycline in alkali-burned mouse corneas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the inhibitory effects of doxycycline on allograft rejection in alkali-burned cornea beds.
  
  
  METHODS
  The corneas of BALB/c mice were injured using a 1 mol/l NaOH solution. Following the injury, the corneas from C57BL/6 mice were transplanted into the eyes of BALB/c mice after being randomized into three groups: allogeneic corneal transplantation (group A), topical use of doxycycline after allogeneic corneal transplantation (group B) and syngeneic corneal transplantation (group C). Corneal angiogenesis was examined using whole-mount immunofluorescence, and corneal inflammation was evaluated using inflammation index scoring. The immune rejection of the grafts was examined using a slit lamp. In addition, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A and interleukin-1β in the transplanted corneas was examined using a real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The outgrowth of the corneal blood vessels in the group A mice was faster than that in the group B and group C mice. The inflammation index levels were highest in the group A mice, intermediate in the group B mice and lowest in the group C mice. Vascular endothelial growth factor and the interleukin-1β protein and mRNA levels decreased dramatically in the group B mice compared with the group A mice (all p-values < 0.01). In addition, the mean survival time in the group B mice (27.00 ± 2.00 days) was significantly longer than that in the group A mice (11.67 ± 1.51 days; p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Doxycycline may have had a significant role in preventing corneal angiogenesis and inflammation in alkali-burned corneal beds, which resulted in higher allograft survival rates.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Shiqi
authors: S
authors: Ling
authors: Weihua
authors: W
authors: Li
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Liu
authors: Hongmei
authors: H
authors: Zhou
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Wang
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Ye
authors: Lingyi
authors: L
authors: Liang
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000468:Alkalies / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000468:Alkalies; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D012313:RNA; D004318:Doxycycline
keywords: allograft; cornea; doxycycline; interleukin-1β; vascular endothelial growth factor A