Conclusions
Corneal keratocytes express VEGF after bFGF stimulation and bFGF-induced corneal NV is blocked by intraperitoneal VEGF TrapR1R2 administration. Systemic administration of VEGF TrapR1R2 may have potential therapeutic applications in the management of corneal NV.
Methods
Control pellets or pellets containing 80 ng bFGF were surgically implanted into wild-type C57BL/6 and VEGF-LacZ mouse corneas. The corneas were photographed, harvested, and the percentage of corneal NV was calculated. The harvested corneas were evaluated for VEGF expression. VEGF-LacZ mice received tail vein injections of an endothelial-specific lectin after pellet implantation to determine the temporal and spatial relationship between VEGF expression and corneal NV. Intraperitoneal injections of VEGF TrapR1R2 or a human IgG Fc domain control protein were administered, and bFGF pellet-induced corneal NV was evaluated.
Purpose
To determine the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) TrapR1R2 on bFGF-induced experimental corneal neovascularization (NV).
Results
NV of the corneal stroma began on day 4 and was sustained through day 21 following bFGF pellet implantation. Progression of vascular endothelial cells correlated with increased VEGF-LacZ expression. Western blot analysis showed increased VEGF expression in the corneal NV zone. Following bFGF pellet implantation, the area of corneal NV in untreated controls was 1.05+/-0.12 mm2 and 1.53+/-0.27 mm2 at days 4 and 7, respectively. This was significantly greater than that of mice treated with VEGF Trap (0.24+/-0.11 mm2 and 0.35+/-0.16 mm2 at days 4 and 7, respectively; p<0.05). Conclusions: Corneal keratocytes express VEGF after bFGF stimulation and bFGF-induced corneal NV is blocked by intraperitoneal VEGF TrapR1R2 administration. Systemic administration of VEGF TrapR1R2 may have potential therapeutic applications in the management of corneal NV.