[An experimental study of corneal allograft rejection with cytotoxin IL-2-PE40]

We used a new immunosuppressive agents interleukin (IL)-2-Pseudomonas exotoxin 40 (PE40) to treat corneal allograft rejection, using the Wistar rat model of heterograft-heterotopic graft rejection. 36 rats were divided randomly into the treatment and the control groups. On 2, 5, 7, 10 and 14 days after the transplantation, the transplanted corneas were removed for pathological examinations. The peripheral blood was collected for the analysis of T cell subgroups and T lymphocyte colony forming unit (T-CFU) assay. These results indicate that IL-2-PE40 can delay the development of corneal graft rejection and significantly reduce the percentage of T-helper cells. On the other hand, IL-2-PE40 can weaken the gathering capacity of the peripheral T-cells.