Purpose: To examine the relationship between corneal inflammation and corneal lymphangiogenesis after keratoplasty.
Methods: Rat corneal lymphangiogenesis was examined by lymphatic vessel endothelial receptor (LYVE-1) immunohistochemistry and whole mount immunofluorescence at 1, 3, 7, 10, and 14 days after corneal transplantation. Corneal inflammation was evaluated by inflammation index (IF) grading and NF-κB immunohistochemistry at the same time points. The association between lymphatic vessel counting (LVC) and the IF scores was then examined.
Results: LYVE-1 positive lymphatic vessels occurred in the corneal stroma on day 3, developed throughout days 7 and 10, and peaked in number at day 14 after keratoplasty. Corneal inflammation was strong on day 3, and then resolved gradually, but increased again from days 7 to 14 after the transplantation. LVC was strongly and positively correlated with IF after keratoplasty (r = 0.41; P < 0.05). However, changes in IF scores and LVC were not parallel.
Conclusion: A close, but not parallel, relationship was found between corneal lymphangiogenesis and corneal inflammation after corneal transplantation.