蕪城 俊克

Purpose: To investigate effects of anti-αβT cell receptor monoclonal antibody (antiαβTcR mAb) on corneal allograft rejection after penetrating keraloplasty (PK) in rats. Methods: We performed PK using Fischer rats (F344) as donors and Lewis rats (Lew/Crj) as recipients. Both donor and recipientcomeas were excised with a 3. 0 mm trephine and they were sutured with 11-0 nylon. The rats were divided into 2 groups: rats treated with anti-αβTcR mAb (Treated group, n=20) and those without antibody treatment (Control group, n=14). The antibody was administered intraperitoneally2 mg/kg daily from 0 to 12th day after PK in Treated group. The corneal grafts were examined by an operating microscope. The corneal grafts were defined to be rejected when they became so opaque that the pupil margins could not be discerned. The corneas were excised 14 days after PK and they were examined histologically. Results: In the Control group, all of the corneal grafts were rejected in 14 days after PK. In the Treated group, on the contrary, no allograft rejection occurred. Histological examination demonstrated marked lymphocyte infiltration, stromal edema and vessel invasion into the grafts in the Control group. In the Treated group, however, lymphocyte infiltration and vessel invasion were mild and no stromal edema was observed. Conclusion: Treatment with anti-αβTcR mAb is effective in suppression of corneal allograft rejection.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) transduces signals through mediation of type I and type II serine/threonine kinase receptors. The expression of TGF-beta type I (T beta R-I) and II (T beta R-II) receptors in rat eyes was investigated immunohistochemically. T beta R-I and T beta R-II immunoreactivity was detected in corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells, corneal endothelial cells, ciliary epithelial cells, lens epithelial cells, retinal pigment epithelial cells, and choroidal vessels. This co-expression of T beta R-I and T beta R-II indicates that the above cells respond to TGF-beta and, because TGF-beta is reported to be produced in ocular tissues, that it may have important autocrine and/or paracrine roles in the growth and metabolism of ocular tissues in situ.

We investigated the effects of long-term instillation of bunazosin hydrochloride--alpha 1 specific adrenergic antagonist--on the aqueous humor dynamics and blood-aqueous barrier in rabbit eyes. We examined intraocular pressure, aqueous flow rate, and blood-aqueous barrier permiability for albumin after four weeks application of 0.05% bunazosin. The effect of bunazosin on blood-aqueous barrier destruction by laser iridophotocoagulation was also examined. During four weeks, bunazosin reduced the intraocular pressure by 1.7 +/- 0.6 mmHg (mean +/- SEM). Continuous application of bunazosin had no significant influence on aqueous flow rate and fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled rabbit albumin (FITC-Alb) concentration in the anterior chamber. Bunazosin had no effect on the rise of the FITC-Alb concentration after iris photocoagulation, but the intraocular pressure in bunazosin treated eyes was significantly lower than in control eyes one hour after photocoagulation.