Effects of Interleukin-6 on Corneal Epithelial Wound Closure after Excimer Laser Surface Ablation in Rabbits

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the effects of interleukin-6(IL-6) on epithelial migration in corneal epithelial wound healing process after excimer laser surface ablation, the morphologic changes as well as the healing rate of the defect area were observed on 30 rabbits(60 eyes). The animals were divided into three groups of twenty each the control group and the two IL-6 treated groups(eye dropping with 0.1mg/L and 1.0mg/L of IL-6). On light microscopic examination, after 9 hours, centripetal migration of epithelial cells and covering of bare stroma with monolayered epithelial cells were more remarkable in the 1.0mg/L group than in the control group, reaching the peak at 18 hours. On transmission electron microscopic examination after 18 hour, the 1.0mg/L group showed the loss of hemidesmosome beneath the leading edge of sliding epithelial cell, other intracellular structures were well preserved. On scanning electron microscopic examination, epithelial migration started at 9 hour in all three groups and the epithelial migration was more rapid in the 1.0mg/L group than in the control group. Fifteen hours and afterwards, the healing rate was significantly accelerated in the 1.0mg/L group than in the control group. In view of the above findings, it was speculated that IL-6 could be used effectively in the early treatment of excimer laser keratectomy and other corneal epithelial injury.