血管内皮生长因子及其受体在大鼠碱烧伤后角膜新生血管中的表达

目的:探讨血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)及其受体Flk-1在大鼠角膜碱烧伤后新生血管中的表达。方法:应用1mol/LNaOH制作大鼠碱烧伤新生血管模型,随机分为3组,分别于1,4,7及14d处死大鼠取出角膜,免疫组织化学方法和RT-PCR方法检测大鼠角膜中的VEGF及其受体Flk-1的表达。结果:正常大鼠角膜中VEGF及Flk-1受体弱表达或不表达。二者均在角膜上皮层,基质层、内皮层及新生血管内皮细胞表达;大鼠角膜碱烧伤后各时间点VEGFmRNA和Flk-1mRNA相对表达量具有相关性。结论:大鼠角膜碱烧伤后,VEGF及其受体Flk-1结合诱导内皮细胞分化及角膜新生血管形成。     

姜黄素对大鼠碱烧伤角膜新生血管的抑制作用

目的:探讨姜黄素(curcumin)对大鼠角膜新生血管(corne-al neovascularization,CNV)形成的影响及CNV形成过程中血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)和诱导型一氧化氮合酶(inducible nitric oxide syn-thesis,iNOS)的表达情况。方法:以碱烧伤建立角膜新生血管模型,采用裂隙灯照相、免疫组化和RT-PCR等方法分别检测使用姜黄素前后各时期角膜组织中VEGF和iNOS的表达情况,并进行统计学分析。结果:姜黄素结膜下注射组角膜新生血管面积明显减少(t值分别为4.453,4.440,3.887,4.718,3.585,P<0.05);免疫组化染色,VEGF和iNOS在正常角膜上皮基底细胞有弱表达,新生血管对照组表达明显增强,其表达主要分布在新生血管形成区域和上皮全层;结膜下注射组表达明显减少;VEGF mRNA和蛋白表达一致。结论:姜黄素可以有效抑制角膜新生血管的发生,其机制与降低角膜新生血管VEGF和iNOS有关。     

大鼠角膜化学伤后PEDF和VEGF的不平衡表达

目的比较硝酸银化学伤后大鼠角膜和正常角膜色素上皮衍生因子（PEDF）和血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）表达水平，揭示两者与角膜新生血管的相关性。方法10只大鼠左眼角膜硝酸银化学伤后为实验组，右眼为正常对照组，伤后15d行免疫组织化学法定位及Western blot定量检测样本角膜PEDF、VEGF等的表达。结果免疫组织化学检查：实验组角膜VEGF、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）强表达，PEDF未见表达或弱表达。正常组角膜PEDF高表达，VEGF弱表达，bFGF几乎不表达。Western Blot分析：实验组角膜PEDF表达明显下降（t=8．0049，P〈0．01），VEGF表达显著升高（t=48．3637，P〈0．01）。结论角膜严重化学伤后新生血管抑制因子PEDF破坏，刺激因子VEGF产生增加，PEDF／VEGF比值降低，角膜血管新生。     

鼠角膜碱烧伤后血管内皮细胞生长因子在其角膜中的表达及意义

目的：探讨角膜碱烧伤后血管内皮细胞生长因子（vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)在鼠角膜中的表达及意义。方法：采用1mol/L氢氧化钠溶液烧伤Sprayue-Dawley(SD)大鼠角膜,建立炎症性角膜新生血管动物模型;用免疫印迹分析SD大鼠角膜烧伤后不同时间段VEGF蛋白在角膜中的表达量;免疫组织化学染色方法检测SD大鼠角膜烧伤后VEGF蛋白在角膜各层中的分布。结果：正常SD大鼠角膜中未检出VEGF蛋白;伤后6h,鼠角膜可检测出VEGF蛋白;伤后96h时,角膜中VEGF蛋白达高峰;伤后168hVEGF蛋白表达量下降,伤后SD大鼠角膜基质层,尤其是毗邻于烧灼区的浅基质层中有大量炎性细胞浸润,浸润的炎性细胞和新生血管内皮细胞均有VEGF蛋白表达。结论;炎性细胞分泌的VEGF蛋白参与了炎症性角膜新生血管增殖的调控,对新生血管的生长有诱导和维持作用。     

角膜碱烧伤后VEGF的表达与新生血管的关系

目的研究碱烧伤后角膜血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growthfactor，VEGF）的表达与角膜新生血管化的关系。方法30只Sprague-Dawleg（SD）大鼠碱烧伤，诱导角膜新生血管模型。碱烧伤后不同时间形态学分析来评价角膜新生血管的情况，免疫组化及Westem blot评价角膜VEGF的表达。结果角膜碱烧伤后24hVEGF的表达开始增高，伤后4d达高峰，伤后7d VEGF的表达下降，14d后显著下降。碱烧伤后，角膜新生血管与VEGF的表达呈明显的平行关系。结论碱烧伤后大鼠角膜VEGF的表达水平与新生血管的形成有相关性，并在其中发挥重要作用。     

The role of PDGF receptor inhibitors and PI3-kinase signaling in the pathogenesis of corneal neovascularization

PURPOSE: Corneal neovascularization remains an unsolved therapeutic problem. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is directly linked to vessel formation and stabilization. This study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanisms by which PDGF exerts its effects on corneal angiogenesis. METHODS: Corneal neovascularization was induced in C57 mice by removal of the limbal epithelium. When mature vessels appeared after 7 days, mice were treated with the PDGF receptor-beta inhibitor AG 1296 or the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)-inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002, respectively, using an intraperitoneally implanted miniosmotic pump. At day 14 after scraping, corneas of treated and untreated (control) mice were dissected and immunostained with FITC-CD31 antibody for endothelial cells and with Cy3-SMA (smooth muscle actin) for pericytes. VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), ang1/2 (angiopoietin 1 and 2), and PDGF mRNA levels of treated and untreated corneas were determined by real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS: Mice treated with the PDGF inhibitor AG 1296 showed an inhibition of corneal neovascularization of 21.1% and a reduction of pericytes of 52% in the newly formed vessels compared with untreated animals. VEGF, ang1, ang2, and PDGF mRNA expression was reduced in the corneas of AG 1296-treated mice compared with the respective control. Treatment with the PI3-K inhibitors wortmannin and LY29002 had similar effects, inducing a decrease in corneal neovascularization and a reduction of VEGF, ang1, ang2, and PDGF mRNA levels. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of the PDGF signal pathway results in loss of pericytes and a reduction in vessel density in the neovascularized cornea that correlates with reduced expression of PDGF, ang1/2, and VEGF mRNA. Furthermore, PI3-K was shown to be involved in the regulation of VEGF, ang1, and PDGF, as the PI3-K inhibitors wortmannin or LY294002 had similar effects. Because PDGF is a known stimulus for PI3-K activation, it can be postulated that the observed decrease in VEGF, ang1/2, and PDGF mRNA levels on administration of the PDGF inhibitor is caused by the decreased activation of the PI3-K signaling cascade.     

Rapid ocular angiogenic control via naked DNA delivery to cornea

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy and safety of naked plasmid gene therapy to the corneal stroma and epithelium. METHODS: Naked plasmid DNA was injected under pressure into the cornea of mice. The expression of genes coding for beta galactosidase (beta-gal), enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and soluble Flt-1 (s-Flt) was recorded and measured with regard to dose, time course, and bioactivity. RESULTS: LacZ gene expression of the protein beta-gal was demonstrated as early as 1 hour, with expression persisting for 10 days. Plasmid-injected corneas remained clear and free of inflammation. EGFP was bicistronically expressed with VEGF to demonstrate the practicality of simultaneous in vivo analysis of gene expression and growth factor bioactivity. Corneal injection of a plasmid containing VEGF cDNA induced corneal and anterior chamber neovascularization. Moreover, corneal injection of plasmid containing the cDNA for the soluble form of the VEGF receptor Flt-1 effectively prevented corneal neovascularization. CONCLUSIONS: The cornea is readily accessible for gene therapy in the laboratory and in the clinic. The method described is safe, effective, titratable, and easily monitored. Naked DNA delivery to the cornea has the potential to alter the treatment of a wide variety of corneal and anterior segment diseases.     

Triamcinolone acetonide inhibits IL-6- and VEGF-induced angiogenesis downstream of the IL-6 and VEGF receptors

PURPOSE: To test whether triamcinolone acetonide (TA) inhibits angiogenesis induced by IL-6 or VEGF and whether this inhibition is through antagonism of the IL-6 or the VEGF receptor 2. METHODS: A rat cornea micropocket assay was used to initiate IL-6- and VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. The ability of TA or neutralizing VEGF antibody to inhibit IL-6- or VEGF-mediated neovascularization was analyzed by measuring vessel length, vessel extension, and vessel area. The phosphorylation of signal transduction activator 3 (STAT3), VEGF receptor, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) was determined by Western blot in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) lysates after stimulus with IL-6 or VEGF, with and without TA pretreatment. The effect of IL-6 or TA on STAT3 expression in cornea was determined by Western blot. RESULTS: IL-6 induced corneal angiogenesis in a dose-dependent manner, with 350 ng producing a peak at day 6. VEGF antibodies and TA blocked IL-6-mediated limbal neovascularization. TA also directly inhibited angiogenesis stimulated by a VEGF pellet; the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone neutralized TA inhibition of angiogenesis. TA did not inhibit IL-6-induced STAT3 phosphorylation and did not inhibit VEGF-induced phosphorylation of the VEGF receptor 2 or of ERK1/2 in endothelial cells, but TA decreased IL-6-induced STAT3 expression in cornea. CONCLUSIONS: IL-6- and VEGF-mediated corneal neovascularization are blocked by TA through the mifepristone-sensitive steroid receptor. TA inhibits IL-6-induced STAT3 expression in cornea, but it does not inhibit activation of the IL-6 or the VEGF receptor in cultured human endothelial cells. This finding has two implications. The fact that TA directly inhibits VEGF action implies that other factors may be critical to angiogenesis and sensitive to glucocorticoids.     

Analysis of angiogenesis induced by cultured corneal and oral mucosal epithelial cell sheets in vitro

The aim of this study was to compare angiogenesis-induction capabilities of cultured corneal epithelial cells (CCE) and cultured oral mucosal epithelial cells (COE) in vitro, and identify candidate factors that induce corneal neovascularization after transplantation of COE sheets. Rabbit corneal and oral mucosal epithelial cells were co-cultured with mitomycin C-treated NIH/3T3 cells on culture plates and inserts. After CCE and COE were multilayered, culture medium was replaced by basal medium and incubated. Angiogenic potential was examined by invasion, migration and tube formation assays with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Protein secretion of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin-1 and transforming growth factor beta1 was assessed in conditioned medium by ELISA. Gene expression of FGF2 and VEGF was also quantified by real-time RT-PCR and neutralizing antibodies against FGF2 and VEGF were employed for blocking assays. COE induced significantly greater invasion, migration and tube formation of HUVECs, when compared to CCE. CCE secreted a significantly lower amount of FGF2 than COE, while amounts of VEGF were approximately equal in both culture media. Similarly, significantly higher expression of FGF2 mRNA was observed with COE, while no significant difference in VEGF mRNA expression was observed between COE and CCE. Only anti-FGF2 neutralizing antibody significantly suppressed HUVEC invasion and migration induced by COE, without suppression in CCE. In conclusion, angiogenic potential of COE is greater than that of CCE and FGF2 is a candidate involved in the induction of corneal neovascularization after COE sheet transplantation.     

VEGF-dependent conjunctivalization of the corneal surface

PURPOSE: To investigate the mechanisms governing corneal neovascularization and the appearance of goblet cells in a murine model of limbal insufficiency. METHODS: The spatial and time-dependent relationship between corneal neovascularization and goblet cell density was analyzed in corneal flatmounts. Immunohistochemical detection of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor Flt-1 (VEGFR1) was performed in paraffin-embedded sections. A transgenic mouse that expresses the reporter gene lacZ targeted to the Flt-1 locus through homologous recombination was used to analyze corneal expression of Flt-1. The presence of soluble and membranous goblet cell Flt-1 mRNA and protein content was assessed with Northern and Western blot analyses, respectively. Finally, systemic adenoviral expression of a soluble Flt-1/Fc construct was used to study the effect of inhibition of VEGF bioactivity on the appearance of goblet cells and neovascularization. RESULTS: Corneal neovascularization preceded the appearance of goblet cells, although both processes overlapped temporally. Flt-1 was abundant in the conjunctiva-like epithelium covering the cornea, as well as in the goblet cells, invading leukocytes, and vasculature. A similar expression pattern was observed in the transgenic mice expressing the lacZ gene downstream from the Flt-1 promoter. Isolated human and rat goblet cells in culture expressed Flt-1 mRNA and protein, as did freshly isolated human conjunctiva. The systemic inhibition of VEGF bioactivity potently suppressed both corneal neovascularization (8.3% +/- 8.1% vs. 41.1% +/- 15.3% corneal area; P < 0.001) and corneal goblet cell density (1.6% +/- 2.5% vs. 12.2% +/- 2.4% corneal area; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Two important features of corneal conjunctivalization, the appearance of goblet cells and neovascularization, are regulated by VEGF. Both processes are probably mediated, in part, through the Flt-1 receptor. Taken together, these data indicate that an anti-VEGF therapeutic approach may limit the visual loss associated with conjunctivalization of the corneal surface.     

PEDF和VEGF在翼状胬肉组织中的不平衡表达

目的 检测翼状胬肉组织中血管生长因子VEGF、FGF-2和抑制因子PEDF的表达，以研究PEDF在翼状胬肉发展中所起作用。方法 用免疫荧光组化法及免疫印迹法对9例原发性翼状胬肉组织进行PEDF、VEGF及FGF-2的检测、分析，并与8例正常人结膜、角膜组织进行对照研究。结果 PEDF在正常人结膜、角膜上皮中高表达，而在翼状胬肉组织中没有或弱表达。VEGF和FGF-2在翼状胬肉组织中高表达，而在正常人结膜、角膜组织中表达较弱。结论 在翼状胬肉组织中血管生长抑制因子PEDF没有或弱表达，而血管生长因子VEGF和FGF-2高表达，提示两者不平衡表达引起纤维血管增生。     

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) enhances apoptosis induced by ultraviolet radiation in corneal epithelial cells through cytochrome c-caspase activation

PURPOSE: To examine the role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells exposed to radiation. METHODS: Rabbit corneal epithelial (RCE) and human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells were exposed to UVC radiation and then to carbamyl PAF (cPAF) for different increments of time. The PAF antagonist BN50739 was added 30 min before cPAF. The caspase inhibitors Ac-DEVD-CHO and Ac-YVAD-CHO were added 1 h before, and the phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) inhibitor MAFP was added 3 h before UVC irradiation. FITC-dUTP TUNEL and DAPI staining were performed to assess the percentage of apoptotic cells. DNA ladder analysis was used to investigate apoptosis induced by different intensities of UVC (50-600 J/m(2)) with or without cPAF. Caspase activation and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: While only 2.7% of RCE cells were DAPI positive in controls incubated for 12 h, 44% of cells were stained positive 4 h after irradiation; these values increased to 63% in the presence of cPAF. Cells incubated with cPAF alone were similar to controls. TUNEL staining and DNA laddering showed also increased in apoptosis after PAF treatment of UV-irradiated cells and BN50739 blocked the effect of cPAF. cPAF increased caspase-3 activation induced by UV irradiation in HCE cells. Cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol was observed 30 min after irradiation. cPAF almost doubled the release of cytochrome c at 30 min and 1 h. Here, too, BN50739 blocked the PAF effect. No release of cytochrome c by PAF was seen in non-irradiated cells, even at higher concentrations. MAFP caused a decrease in cytochrome c release from UV-treated cells, and caused an even greater inhibition of cytochrome c release in cells stimulated with PAF. CONCLUSIONS: PAF increases RCE and HCE apoptosis caused by UV irradiation by stimulating PLA(2), producing an early release of cytocrome c from mitochondria and activating caspase-3 by a receptor-mediated mechanism. This accelerating effect of PAF on the apoptotic cascade only occurred when corneal epithelial cells had been previously damaged by UV radiation.     

Differential effects of epidermal growth factor and interleukin 6 on corneal epithelial cells and vascular endothelial cells.

PURPOSE: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) stimulate corneal epithelial wound healing. When applied to the cornea, these cytokines act on various types of cells and therefore may induce corneal neovascularization. We investigated the effects of EGF and IL-6 on cell proliferation and cell migration in rabbit corneal epithelial cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: Corneal epithelial cells or HUVECs were cultured with EGF or IL-6 in the presence of 1% fetal bovine serum, and the number of cells were counted, or the radioactivity of [3H]thymidine-incorporated cells was measured. Monolayered cultured corneal epithelial cells or HUVECs were mechanically wounded, and then the cells were cultured with serum-free basal medium containing EGF or IL-6. After 12 or 24 h, the wounded area was measured. Corneal blocks were cultured with serum-free TC-199 medium containing EGF or IL-6 for 24 h, and then the length of the path of the corneal epithelium was measured. RESULTS: Estimated cell count and [3H]thymidine uptake showed that EGF stimulated cell proliferation in both corneal epithelial cells and HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, IL-6 did not affect cell proliferation in either cell type. Furthermore, EGF also stimulated cell migration by increasing the monolayer and organ-culture system in both cells in a dose-dependent fashion. However, IL-6 stimulated cell migration only in corneal epithelial cells and not in HUVECs. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated that EGF stimulated cell proliferation and migration in both corneal epithelial cells and HUVECs. In contrast, IL-6 stimulated only corneal epithelial cell migration and did not affect cell proliferation in either cell type or cell migration in HUVECs. These results suggest that, when applied to the cornea, EGF might induce corneal neovascularization, and IL-6 probably would not.     

血管内皮生长因子及其受体在病变角膜的表达和临床意义的探讨

目的：探讨血管内皮生长因子（vacular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)及其受体flt-l在各种病变角膜的表达和可能的作用。方法：收集正常周边角膜和角膜缘组织11例和各种病变的角膜标本32例。冰冻切片,用免疫组织化学方法检查标本内VEGF及其flt-1,分析其VEGF的表达与临床表现的关系。结果：VEGF在血管化和非血管化角膜标本均为阳性,在角膜上皮和病变基质表达较强;flt-l在大多数标本呈现阳性反应。在基质和内皮病变角膜VEGF表达高于正常角膜的表达（P＜0．05）,在浸润炎症细胞和增殖组织中的表达与角膜混浊程度、新生血管面积呈正相关（P＜0．05）。结论：各种病变角膜均表达了VEGF及其受体,VEGF在角膜损伤的修复和新生血管化可能起着重要作用。