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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
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A Human Corneal Organ Culture Model of Descemet's Stripping Only with Accelerated Healing Stimulated by Engineered Fibroblast Growth Factor 1
Published on: July 22, 2022
Decay accelerating factor is essential for successful corneal engraftment.
A Esposito1, B Suedekum, J Liu
1Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Summary
Decay accelerating factor (DAF) is crucial for successful corneal transplants, preventing immune rejection. Its absence on donor or recipient tissues leads to rejection and hinders immune tolerance, suggesting DAF as a therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Transplantation Biology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- The eye possesses a unique tolerogenic environment, allowing corneal transplants without systemic immunosuppression.
- Immune privilege in the eye is critical for successful engraftment across histocompatibility barriers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of decay accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) in maintaining immune privilege for corneal transplantation.
- To determine if DAF expression on donor or recipient tissues is essential for corneal graft acceptance.
Main Methods:
- Corneal transplantation experiments were performed using wild-type (WT) and DAF-deficient mice.
- Graft acceptance and rejection were monitored, alongside analysis of T-cell responses (IFN-gamma, IL-10, TGF-beta).
Main Results:
- WT corneas were accepted in WT recipients, even across MHC disparate barriers.
- Absence of DAF on donor cornea or recipient bed led to rapid rejection.
- DAF deficiency resulted in expanded donor-reactive T cells and impaired regulatory cytokine production (IL-10, TGF-beta).
Conclusions:
- Recipient and donor DAF expression is essential for sustaining corneal graft acceptance and immune tolerance.
- DAF plays a requisite role in conferring ocular immune privilege.
- Augmenting DAF levels may offer therapeutic potential for high-risk corneal transplants.
