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[Relationship between corneal neovascularization and various relevant biological factors in surrounding cornea stroma
Ting Wang1, Wei-yun Shi, Su-xia Li
1Shandong Eye Institute, Qingdao 266071, China.
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-beta1 (TGF-beta1), alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and fibroblast 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-beta1 was first expressed in the cornea stroma. Then, some stroma cells expressed both alpha-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.
