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Experimental models of orthotopic limbal transplantation in the mouse. Evaluation of allo‐ and xenograft survival and characterization of cytokine response
Author(s) -
LENCOVA A,
POKORNA K,
ZAJICOVA A,
FILIPEC M,
HOLAN V
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.543.x
Subject(s) - xenotransplantation , neovascularization , transplantation , medicine , cornea , corneal epithelium , cytokine , pathology , corneal transplantation , epithelium , immunology , angiogenesis , ophthalmology , cancer research , surgery
Purpose To establish and characterize experimental model of orthotopic limbal allo‐ and xenotransplantation in the mouse. Evaluation of graft survival and detection of intragraft cytokine response. Methods Syngeneic (BALB/c donors), allogeneic (B6 donors) and xenogeneic (rat Lewis) orthotopic limbal transplantation was performed in BALB/c mice. Recipients with intact or removed corneal epithelium were used. Limbal graft survival and reepitelization of the cornea were scored clinically (opacity, oedema, neovascularization) or by the presence of graft donor cells as detected by the Real‐time PCR. Expression of genes for IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐10, IFN‐γ and nitric oxide (NO) in the graft was detected by PCR. Results Significant differences in opacity, oedema and neovascularization were observed in syngeneic, allogeneic and xenogeneic limbal grafts and in the recipients´ corneal epithelium. The strongest rejection reaction was induced by limbal xenograft. No xenogeneic cells were detected in the graft 2 weeks after transplantation. The rejection reaction was accompanied by an abundant cytokine and NO response in the graft. Conclusion The experimental limbal transplantation in the mouse can be a useful model to characterize rejection reaction and to test various immunosuppressive treatments after limbal tissue or limbal stem cell transplantation.