Title: Relationship between corneal neovascularization and various relevant biological factors in surrounding cornea stroma of rats
Abstract: Objective To study the relationship between corneal neovascularization and various biological factors in corneal stroma of rats. Methods It was an experimental study. Corneal neovascularization was induced by alkali burn in 40 rats. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibmblast activation protein (FAP) in the stroma surrounding corneal neovascularization were detected by immunohistochemical studies on day 1, 3 and 7 after chemical burn. Platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31) was used to identify the vascular endothelial cells. RT-PCR was used to identify FAP in the cornea 3 and 7 days after chemical burn. Picrosirius staining and polarization microscopy were used to detect changes of collagen types Ⅰ and Ⅲ in the cornea. Results After alkali burn, TGF-β1 was first expressed in the cornea stroma. Then, some stroma cells expressed both α-SMA and FAP. The FAP+ keratocytes were found surrounding the CD31+ endothelium of angiogenesis. RT-PCR study showed that FAP mRNA was only present in neovascularized cornea and not in normal cornea. Polarization microscopy revealed that the collagen types Ⅰ and Ⅲ were rearranged in neovascularized cornea. Conclusions Various biological factors in corneal stroma are changed when the cornea shows neovascularization. FAP+ keratocytes are present in the stroma, and the appearance of these cells parallels the growth of vascular endothelial cells. Collagen types Ⅰ and Ⅲ are rearranged during the process of angiogenesis. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2009,45:158-163)
Key words:
Corneal neovascularization; Corneal stroma; Collagen; Antigens, neoplasm; Serine endopeptidases
Publication Year: 2009
Publication Date: 2009-02-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 1
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