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Corneal neovascularization during experimental fungal keratitis.

ABSTRACT: To investigate the development of corneal neovascularization, the corneal expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and the antiangiogenic effects of a VEGF-inhibitory antibody during experimental keratomycosis.Scarified corneas of BALB/c mice were topically inoculated with Candidaalbicans and monitored daily for corneal neovascularization. A murine gene microarray compared infected corneas to controls 1 day after inoculation. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) determined levels of genes encoding VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D and placental growth factor in infected, mock-inoculated, and normal corneas. Immunostaining localized VEGF-A in corneal sections. An anti-VEGF-A antibody that binds to murine VEGF was evaluated for effects on corneal neovascularization and fungal recovery.Eyes with C. albicans keratitis manifested limbal capillary budding on the second postinoculation day, and intrastromal neovascular tufts subsequently grew at a mean rate of 250+/-80 microm/day. One day after the onset of C. albicans keratitis, VEGF-A was upregulated 12.5 fold (p=0.01) by microarray and 8.8 fold (p=0.004) by real-time RT-PCR, followed by a measured decline toward baseline over one week. VEGF-A was present in the epithelium and stroma of infected corneas. Scarification alone did not alter VEGF expression compared to the normal cornea. Anti-VEGF-A antibody significantly (p<0.01) decreased the formation of new corneal blood vessels during experimental keratomycosis without adversely affecting the fungal load of C. albicans keratitis.Untreated C. albicans keratitis induces VEGF-A and leads to progressive corneal neovascularization that is preventable by a VEGF-blocking antibody.

SUBMITTER: Yuan X

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2756518 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Corneal neovascularization during experimental fungal keratitis.

Yuan Xiaoyong X Wilhelmus Kirk R KR

Molecular vision 20090929

<h4>Purpose</h4>To investigate the development of corneal neovascularization, the corneal expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and the antiangiogenic effects of a VEGF-inhibitory antibody during experimental keratomycosis.<h4>Methods</h4>Scarified corneas of BALB/c mice were topically inoculated with Candidaalbicans and monitored daily for corneal neovascularization. A murine gene microarray compared infected corneas to controls 1 day after inoculation. Real-time reverse tran ...[more]

PMID: 19816603

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Project description:PurposeThe S100A protein family is involved in various inflammatory processes. Two of its members, S100A4 and A13, are thought to be pro-angiogenic in tumor development. This study examines whether S100A proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammation-associated corneal neovascularization (CorNV).MethodsWe used 10-0 nylon suture--(S) or chemical burn (CB)--induced CorNV models for a microarray analysis of the genome-wide expression pattern. At different time points after suturing, we conducted histopathological examinations to detect the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the corneal stroma. Representative members of the S100A family (S100A4, S100A6, S100A8, S100A9, and S100A13), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, transforming growth factor β1, and MIP-2), and pro-angiogenic factors (fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor) were detected with reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-QPCR). We used immunofluorescence to monitor neutrophil or macrophage infiltration and S100A8 or S100A9 protein deposition in neovascularized corneas. Antibody-mediated neutrophil depletion or S100A8 depletion in mice was performed to evaluate the role of neutrophils and S100A proteins in suture-induced corneal neovascularization (S-CorNV).ResultsMicroarray profiling revealed that S100A4, S100A6, S100A8, S100A9, and S100A13 were upregulated in both CorNV models, with S100A8 and S100A9 manifesting the most significant changes compared to the normal animals. An RT-QPCR assay of these S100A genes and cytokine genes in the S-CorNV corneas showed that the changes were time-dependent, reaching the apex at day 5. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that neutrophils and macrophages produce S100A8 and S100A9. The depletion of neutrophils beginning one day before S-CorNV induction decreased disease severity and S100A8/S100A9 deposition in the neovascularized corneas. The extent of upregulation of other detected S100A genes and pro-inflammatory or pro-angiogenic genes was also decreased by neutrophil depletion. Subconjunctival administration of S100A8 antibodies also significantly inhibited the growth of vessels and inflammation in the S-CorNV model.ConclusionsWe determined that S100A proteins are involved in the inflammatory CorNV model and that S100A8 or S100A9 in particular might be employed as targets in managing diseases involving this pathological process.

Dataset Information

Corneal neovascularization during experimental fungal keratitis.

Publications

Corneal neovascularization during experimental fungal keratitis.

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