Local bioactive tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in corneal allotransplantation
S. A. Rayner
Department of Immunology, Division of Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London,
Search for more papers by this authorW. J. King
Department of Immunology, Division of Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London,
Search for more papers by this authorR. M. Comer
Department of Immunology, Division of Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London,
Search for more papers by this authorJ. D. Isaacs
Department of Rheumatology, University of Leeds, Leeds,
Search for more papers by this authorG. Hale
Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, and
Search for more papers by this authorA. J. T. George
Department of Immunology, Division of Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London,
Search for more papers by this authorD. F. P. Larkin
Department of Immunology, Division of Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London,
Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorS. A. Rayner
Department of Immunology, Division of Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London,
Search for more papers by this authorW. J. King
Department of Immunology, Division of Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London,
Search for more papers by this authorR. M. Comer
Department of Immunology, Division of Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London,
Search for more papers by this authorJ. D. Isaacs
Department of Rheumatology, University of Leeds, Leeds,
Search for more papers by this authorG. Hale
Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, and
Search for more papers by this authorA. J. T. George
Department of Immunology, Division of Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London,
Search for more papers by this authorD. F. P. Larkin
Department of Immunology, Division of Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London,
Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
The aim of this study was to examine the kinetic profile of bioactive TNF levels in aqueous humour of rabbit eyes undergoing corneal allograft rejection and to investigate the effect of locally blocking TNF activity after corneal transplantation. In a rabbit corneal transplantation, endothelial allograft rejection was identified and correlated with increase in central graft thickness. Samples of aqueous humour obtained on alternate days following transplantation were tested for TNF mRNA and bioactive TNF protein. To investigate the effect of locally blocking TNF activity in allograft recipients, the fusion protein TNFR-Ig was administered by injections into the anterior chamber after transplantation. Pulsatile increases in levels of this cytokine were found in 14 of 15 allograft recipients. Peaks of TNF bioactivity preceded by varying intervals the observed onset of rejection in allograft recipients. TNF levels were not elevated in aqueous humour from corneal autograft recipient controls or in serum of allografted animals. mRNA levels were elevated before onset of and during clinically observed allograft rejection. In three of seven animals receiving TNFR-Ig injections on alternate days from day 8 to day 16 post-transplant, clear prolongation of corneal allograft survival was demonstrated. Bioactive TNF is present in aqueous humour following rabbit corneal allotransplantation. Rather than correlating directly with endothelial rejection onset, pulsatile peak levels of TNF precede and follow the observed onset of endothelial rejection. Blockade of TNF activity prolongs corneal allograft survival in some animals, indicating that this cytokine may be a suitable target in local therapy of corneal allograft rejection.
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