Abstract
Transparency of the cornea, the window of the eye, is a prerequisite for vision. Angiogenesis into the normally avascular cornea is incompatible with good vision and, therefore, the cornea is one of the few tissues in the human body where avascularity is actively maintained. Here, we provide evidence for a critical mechanism contributing to corneal avascularity. VEGF receptor 3, normally present on lymphatic and proliferating blood vascular endothelium, is strongly constitutively expressed by corneal epithelium and is mechanistically responsible for suppressing inflammatory corneal angiogenesis.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Cell Proliferation
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Epithelium, Corneal / metabolism*
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Flow Cytometry
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Humans
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Inflammation
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Neovascularization, Physiologic
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / metabolism
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / metabolism
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / biosynthesis*
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / chemistry
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Vision, Ocular*
Substances
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3