title: An association between corneal inflammation and corneal lymphangiogenesis after keratoplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between corneal inflammation and corneal lymphangiogenesis after keratoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat corneal lymphangiogenesis was examined by lymphatic vessel endothelial receptor (LYVE-1) immunohistochemistry and whole mount immunofluorescence at 1, 3, 7, 10, and 14 days after corneal transplantation. Corneal inflammation was evaluated by inflammation index (IF) grading and NF-κB immunohistochemistry at the same time points. The association between lymphatic vessel counting (LVC) and the IF scores was then examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LYVE-1 positive lymphatic vessels occurred in the corneal stroma on day 3, developed throughout days 7 and 10, and peaked in number at day 14 after keratoplasty. Corneal inflammation was strong on day 3, and then resolved gradually, but increased again from days 7 to 14 after the transplantation. LVC was strongly and positively correlated with IF after keratoplasty (r = 0.41; P < 0.05). However, changes in IF scores and LVC were not parallel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A close, but not parallel, relationship was found between corneal lymphangiogenesis and corneal inflammation after corneal transplantation.
authors.forename: Weihua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wencong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shiqi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000737:chemistry; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004727:Endothelium; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007634:Keratitis / Q000209:etiology*; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C533408:Lyve1 protein, rat; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface