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Soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 suppresses allosensitization and promotes corneal allograft survival

  • Basic Science
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the effect of VEGF-C and VEGF-D blockade via soluble VEGFR-3 (sVEGFR-3) on T cell allosensitization, corneal neovascularization, and transplant survival.

Methods

Corneal intrastromal suture placement and allogeneic transplantation were performed on BALB/c mice to evaluate the effect of sVEGFR-3 on corneal neovascularization. Soluble VEGFR-3 trap was injected intraperitoneally to block VEGF-C/D (every other day starting the day of surgery). Immunohistochemical staining of corneal whole mounts was performed using anti-CD31 (PECAM-1) and anti-LYVE-1 antibodies to quantify the levels of hem- and lymphangiogenesis, respectively. Mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was performed to assess indirect and direct host T cell allosensitization and the frequencies of IFN-γ-producing T cells in the draining lymph nodes were assessed using flow cytometry. Graft opacity and survival was evaluated by slit-lamp biomicroscopy.

Results

Treatment with sVEGFR-3 resulted in a significant blockade of lymphangiogenesis 2 weeks post-transplantation and significantly prolonged corneal allograft survival compared to the control group at 8 weeks post-transplantation (87.5 % vs. 50 %), and this was associated with significant reduction in the frequencies of allosensitized T cells and decreased frequencies of IFN-γ–producing CD4 T cells.

Conclusions

Soluble VEGFR-3 suppresses corneal lymphangiogenesis and allograft rejection and may offer a viable therapeutic modality for corneal neovascularization and corneal transplantation.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (EY012963) and Circadian Technologies Ltd. The authors thank Dr. Susanne Eiglmeier for her expert advice and assistance in manuscript preparation.

Grant support

NIH EY012963, Circadian Technologies Ltd.

Disclosures

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Parisa Emami-Naeini

    Present address: Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Parisa Emami-Naeini, Thomas H. Dohlman, Masahiro Omoto, Takaaki Hattori, Yihe Chen, Hyun Soo Lee, Sunil K. Chauhan & Reza Dana

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  1. Parisa Emami-Naeini
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Correspondence to Reza Dana.

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Emami-Naeini, P., Dohlman, T.H., Omoto, M. et al. Soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 suppresses allosensitization and promotes corneal allograft survival. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 252, 1755–1762 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-014-2749-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-014-2749-5

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