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Comparative Study of Tacrolimus and Bevacizumab on Corneal Neovascularization in Rabbits
Author(s) -
Kim S.E.,
Park J.H.,
Chung S.K.
Publication year - 2015
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.1755-3768.2015.0292
Subject(s) - corneal neovascularization , neovascularization , medicine , ophthalmology , bevacizumab , tacrolimus , eye drop , cornea , surgery , angiogenesis , chemotherapy , transplantation
Purpose To compare the anti‐angiogenic effects of tacrolimus and bevacizumab on corneal neovascularization in rabbits. Methods Neovascularization was induced in 32 eyes of 16 rabbits by placing suture in the corneal stroma. Seven days after suture placement, all rabbits were divided into four groups and were treated subconjunctivally with bevacizumab 0.05 mL (5 mg/0.05 mL ; AVA _sub), Tacrolimus 0.05 mL (0.25 mg/0.05 mL ; TAC _sub), balanced salt solution (0.05mL was subconjunctivally injected in one eye of each rabbit and applied by eye drops in the other eye, control group), and Tacrolimus eye drops (5 mg/5 mL applied four times daily; TAC _drop). Digital photographs were obtained and the surface area of corneal neovascularization was measured 7 days after subconjunctival injections. Corneal specimens were analyzed histopathologically and were used to measure the concentration of VEGF , TNF ‐ α , IFN ‐ γ , IL ‐1 β , and MCP ‐1 mRNA by RT‐PCR. Results In digital photographs, the neovascularized area was decreased in all treatment groups ( AVA _sub 0.58, TAC _sub 0.60, TAC _drop 0.68) compared with the control group ( BSS 0.81). The histological examination showed markedly regressed new vessels in treatment groups, and the immunohistochemical staining revealed weakly stained with anti‐ VEGF and anti‐F4/80 antibodies in the treatment groups. In semi‐quantitative RT ‐ PCR , the concentration of VEGF ( AVA _sub 0.24, TAC _drop 0.18), TNF ‐ α ( AVA _sub 0.19, TAC _sub 0.24, TAC _drop 0.15), and IL ‐1ß ( AVA _sub 0.19, TAC _sub 0.33, TAC _drop 0.18) mRNA were significantly lower in the treatment groups than in the control group ( VEGF 0.47, TNF ‐ α 0.44, IL ‐1β 0.87) (P < 0.05). Conclusions Topical and subconjunctival tacrolimus application may be useful in reducing corneal neovascularization and have comparable effects to subconjunctival bevacizumab injection.