血管内皮生长因子C在小鼠碱烧伤角膜内的表达及意义

Expression and Significance of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C in Mouse Cornea after Alkali Burns

目的观察血管内皮生长因子C(VEGF-C)在小鼠角膜碱烧伤后不同时间段角膜组织内的表达情况,探讨VEGF-C在小鼠角膜碱烧伤后新生淋巴管形成过程中的作用。方法制作小鼠角膜碱烧伤模型,分别于碱烧伤后1d、3d、5d、7d、12d和18d取材。采用免疫组化法(SP),观察VEGF-C在正常角膜和碱烧伤后不同时间段角膜组织内的表达情况。应用淋巴管内皮透明质酸受体(LYVE-1)标记淋巴管,观察小鼠碱烧伤角膜内新生淋巴管的形成情况。结果在正常小鼠角膜组织内,VEGF-C表达于角膜上皮层和内皮层。在碱烧伤角膜内,VEGF-C主要表达于角膜基质内入侵的炎性细胞和角膜上皮层细胞,并且表达增高,于碱烧伤后3d,VEGF-C的表达达到高峰(P<0.01)。碱烧伤后7d,VEGF-C的表达下降至正常水平,可见阳性表达LYVE-1的处于开放状态的新生淋巴管。结论VEGF-C可能参与小鼠角膜碱烧伤后角膜新生淋巴管形成过程。

Objective To investigate the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor C（VEGF-C）in corneal lymphangiogenesis, we observed the expression of VEGF-C and the existence of lymphatic vessels in mouse cornea at different stages after alkali burns. Methods The corneal alkali burn models were made by sodium hydroxide. Corneas were excised at the stages of 1d, 3d, 5d, 7d, 12d and 18d after alkali burns respectively. The expression of VEGF-C was observed by immunohistochemical staining and the corneal lymphatic vessels were detected by lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronic acid receptor （LYVE-1） as the specific marker of lymphatic endothelium. Results In normal cornea, epithelium and endothelium showed positive staining of VEGF-C protein. In alkali burned cornea, the expression of VEGF-C was detected in infiltrated inflammatory cells, epithelium and endothelium and increased and peaked at 3d after alkali burns（P〈0.01）, and decreased to normal level with newly formed LYVE-1 positive lymphatic vessels in the corneal stroma at 7d after alkali burns. Conclusion VEGF-C may be involved in corneal lymphangiogenesis in cornea after alkali burns.