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The effect of topical infliximab on corneal neovascularization in rabbits
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Purpose:
To determine the efficacy of topical application of infliximab [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) monoclonal antibody] for the treatment of corneal neovascularization in the rabbit model.
Methods:
In 12 rabbits (24 eyes), the corneal stroma was sutured to induce corneal neovascularization. One week after suture, corneal neovascularization was confirmed and the subjects were divided into 4 groups of 3 rabbits. Sterilized balanced salt solution was applied in the control group, and the experimental groups were treated with infliximab eye drops of varying concentrations (1, 2, and 4 mg/mL) twice daily for a week. The area of corneal neovascularization was measured and analyzed in all groups on day 3 and day 7. On day 7, all eyes were extracted to compare the TNF-α messenger RNA concentration by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and the vascular endothelial growth factor activity of corneal neovascular tissue was observed by fluorescence immunostaining.
Result:
On day 7, all 3 experimental groups (1, 2, and 4 mg/mL) had a significantly reduced area of corneal neovascularization compared with the control group (P = 0.043, 0.027, and 0.01, respectively) and significantly reduced TNF-α messenger RNA (P = 0.038, 0.031, and 0.022, respectively). Fluorescence immunostaining confirmed the reduced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in all 3 experimental groups compared with the control group.
Conclusions:
The application of infliximab is expected to effectively inhibit corneal neovascularization. Further clinical studies are necessary.
