Blocking growth factor may increase corneal transplant success

A growth factor known to affect lymphatic vessels may also stimulate the immune system to reject corneal transplants, according to an animal study.

Research by Reza Dana, MD, MPH, and colleagues at the Schepens Eye Research Institute suggests that blocking vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) may help corneal transplants survive. According to a press release from Schepens, this marks the first time a correlation between the growth factor and corneal transplant success has been identified.

Each year, about 10% of the almost 40,000 corneal transplants performed in the U.S. are unsuccessful; those that succeed require extensive use of topical steroids, the release said.

“If transplants are placed in eyes suffering from inflammation (caused by a full-blown immune response to the original injury or disease), rejection rates go well over 50%, regardless of the therapy employed,” the release said.

When a cornea becomes inflamed, VEGFR-3 activates on antigen-presenting cells (APCs), then triggers those cells to move into the lymphatic vessels and to make contact with the T-cells. In a mouse study, blocking VEGFR-3 prevented the APCs from entering the lymphatic system, essentially arresting the immune response, the release said.

“We had never seen this connection before,” Dr. Dana said in the release.

The study is published in the August issue of Nature Medicine.