| PURPOSE Acanthamoeba keratitis is a leading sight—threatening infection of the corneal blindness.Previous research had showed that innate natural immunity play a important role in the progression of Acanthamoeba keratitis.The aims of this study was to establish a rabbit model of Acanthamoeba keratitis which is simulation of human corneal infection with acanthamoeba, to evaluate its clinical and histopathologic changes, and to identify the kinetics of infihrated cytokines in the Acanthamoeba keratitis.METHODS A rabbit model of Acanthamoeba keratitis was established by epikeratophakia. Cornea slice was sewed onto acceptor cornea with 10-0 nylon thread.Acanthamoeba trophozoites suspensions was injected into the space between cornea slice and acceptor cornea in the cornea of the right eyes in 40 rabbit,and the normal saline solution was used in the left eyes as contro1.Slit lamp microscopy,cornea scraping,pathological section examination and culture were used at day 1,3,5,7,9,14and 28 after modeling. Inflammation cytokine-IL-1βand MCP-l were detected using RT-PCR in the different course.RESULTS A rabbit model of acanthamoeba keratitis was built successfully and proved by cornea scraping, pathological section examination and culture. the eyes displayed edema, ring infiltrate and blood vessels in stroma. The pathological tissue sections within the stroma can be seen acanthamoeba trophozoites or cysts, associated with infiltration of neutrophils, mononuclear macrophages, spindle cells and so on. IL-1β,MCP-l were weakly expressed on control group.However,large amount of IL-1βwere detected in the 1,3,5,7th day of Acanthamoeba keratitis and the highest expression level was revealed respectively at the 3th day. Large amount of MCP-l were detected in the 1,3,5,7,9th day of Acanthamoeba keratitisthe and the highest expression level was revealed respectively at the 5th day,showing a significant difference between various stage of Acanthamoeba keratitis and the control group(P<0.01)and a intergroup significant difference(P<0.01).A statistically significant difference was seen between various stage of keratitis(P <0.01).CONCLUSION A rabbit model of Acanthamoeba keratitis could be established successfully by epikeratophakia. The over expression of IL-1βin cornea with Acanthamoeba keratitis was parallel to the extent of inflammation reaction; the expression of MCP-1 in cornea with Acanthamoeba keratitis was an defensive and protective factor. |
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