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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Murine Corneal Transplantation: A Model to Study the Most Common Form of Solid Organ Transplantation
Published on: November 17, 2014
Very late antigen 1 blockade markedly promotes survival of corneal allografts
Lu Chen1, Syed Huq, Humphrey Gardner
1Laboratory of Immunology, Schepens Eye Research Institute and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford St, Boston, MA, USA.
Objective:
To investigate the role of very late antigen 1 (VLA-1) (also known as integrin receptor alpha(1)beta(1)) in corneal transplantation inflammation and allograft survival.
Methods:
Cell infiltration and vasculogenesis (both angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis) associated with allodisparate corneal transplantation were assessed in VLA-1-deficient conditions and controls by immunofluorescent microscopic studies. Corneal allograft survival was also assessed after anti-VLA-1 antibody treatment and in VLA-1 knockout recipient mice.
Results:
Anti-VLA-1 antibody treatment leads to a profound reduction in the granulocytic, monocytic, and T-cell infiltration after corneal transplantation. In addition, corneal angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis were both significantly suppressed in VLA-1 knockout mice. Remarkably, universal graft survival was observed in both anti-VLA-1 antibody treatment and knockout mice.
Conclusions:
Very late antigen 1 blockade markedly reduces inflammation and inflammation-induced tissue responses, including vasculogenic responses, associated with corneal transplantation and promotes allograft survival.
Clinical Relevance:
These studies offer insights into important integrin-mediated mechanisms of corneal transplant-related inflammation and provide possible new integrin-based immunotherapies for transplant rejection.
