An Association between Corneal Inflammation and Corneal Lymphangiogenesis after Keratoplasty

摘要

Purpose:.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 and10,.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.Conclusion:.A close,.but not parallel,.relationship was found between corneal lymphangiogenesis and corneal inflammation after corneal transplantation.