The Relationship Between Corneal Angiogenesis And Lymphangiogenesis With VEGF-A And VEGF-C Expression In The Aqueous Humor Of Eyes

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between cornealneovascularization and lymphangiogenesis with with VEGF-A andVEGF-C expression in the aqueous humor of eyes of patients withkeratoplasty following the keratopathy, to provide a theoretical basis forchoosing the operation time for the patients prepared for keratoplasty.Methods: Experimental group involved10patients with keratoplastyfollowing the corneal ulcer and alkali burn. Control group involved10patients with simple age-related cataract. Blood vessels counting (BVC) andlymphatic vessels counting (LVC) were tested by nonspecific vesselsendothelial antibody CD31and immunohistochemical staining of lymphaticvessel endothelial hyaluronic acid receptor-1(LYVE-1). VEGF-A andVEGF-C concentrations in the aqueous humor of eyes of patients and controlgroup were measured by ELISA technology. We explore the relationshipbetween the expression of VEGF-A and VEGF-C in aqueous and the BVCand LVC. Results: Immunohistochemical staining showed that all of10patientsin experimental group presented angiogenesis, of whom4presented bothneovascularization and lymphangiogenesis. VEGF-A and VEGF-Cexpression in two groups were significant different. Cornealneovascularization and lymphangiogenesis were significantly related toVEGF-A and VEGF-C concentrations in the aqueous humor of eyes.Conclusions: VEGF-A and VEGF-C expression in the aqueous humorof eyes were significantly higher in patients with neovascularization andlymphangiogenesis following keratopathy than the control group. VEGF-Aexpression was positively related to the blood vessels of cornea. By thetendency analysis after normalization, VEGF-C expression was highlyrelated to the lymph vessels of cornea. Therefore, VEGF-A and VEGF-Cconcentrations could reflect the growth of corneal neovascularization andlymphangiogenesis.