白介素-18、血管内皮生长因子与角膜病变血管形成关系的研究

Investigation of the relationship between IL-18、VEGF and corneal neovascularization

目的检测IL-18、VEGF在正常角膜和血管化角膜的表达,探讨IL-18在角膜新生血管化中的作用。方法收集角膜移植手术后病变角膜23例,正常角膜10例,采用免疫组织化学染色方法检测IL-18、VEGF在正常角膜和血管化角膜各层组织的表达。结果正常角膜组织中IL-18主要分布在上皮层、前弹力层、内皮层,以上皮层的表达最明显,VEGF在上皮层、前弹力层、和内皮层均有表达,前弹力层表达最强烈;血管化的角膜标本中IL-18表达相对正常角膜降低(P<0.001),而VEGF在该标本中上皮层、基质层均强烈表达,新生血管化区域、炎性细胞均呈现强阳性,相对正常角膜明显增强(P<0.001);二者表达呈负相关(γ=-0.683,P<0.05)。结论血管化角膜中IL-18水平明显降低,角膜新生血管化病理过程中新生血管的形成与IL-18水平降低密切相关。

Objective To investigate the expressions of interleukin - 18（IL- 18 ） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） in neovascularization corneas and normal cornears and discuss their effects on morbid corneas. Methods Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of IC- 18 and VEGF. Results IL-18 was expressed in epithelium, Bowman layer and endothelium in normal cornea. Stronger staining was found in the epithelia, VEGF was expressed in epithelium, Bowman layer and endothelium in normal cornea. Weak expression was found in the stroma. In the neovascularization cornea the expressive levels of IL-18 decreased than in the normal cornea（P〈0.001）. But VEGF expression was up-regulated significantly in epithelium and stroma. Moreover, The stronger staining was found in the neovascularization areas and inflammatory cells（P〈0.01） The expressive levels of IL- 18 were negatively correlated with that of VEGF（ γ=-0.683, P〈0.05）. Conclusion IL-18 and VEGF were expressed in normal corneas and neovascularization corneas. Pathology course of cornea neovascularization （CNV） is correlated with the decreased expression of IL-18.