Expression of LFA-3(CD58) After Intracorneal Infection of Candida albicans in Rabbits

ABSTRACT

In this immunohistochemical study we applied a monoclonal antibody(mAb) to evaluate the expression pattern of lymphocyte functionassociated antigen 3(LFA-3) in rabbit`s corneas before and after intracorneal injection of Candida albicans. Ten right eyes were induced to get immunocompromized cornea with subconjunctival injection of 2mg of dexamethasone once a day for 3 days(group I), and 10 left eyes had normal cornea without subconjunctival injection of dexamethazone(group II). Each 2 corneas in both group I and II were resected at 3, 12, 24 and 72 hours after intracorneal injection of C. albicans. Each 2 corneas without intracorneal injection of C. albicans in both groups were used as a control. The results were as follows: LFA-3 was expressed weakly on corneal epithlium in control of group I and group II. Expression of LFA-3 on vascular endothelium of group II was somewhat stronger than that of group I, LFA-3 was expressed moderately on vascular endothelium, and was detected on corneal stroma at 3 hors after intracorneal injection in both groups. Expression of LFA-3 on corneal stroma was slightly increased in both group II, and markedly increased in group I at 12 hours after intracorneal injection. Group II showed slightly increased LFA-3 expression on corneal and II to be expressed on corneal endothelium and inflammatory cells at 24 hours after injection. Its expression on corneal epithelium, stroma and endothelium was more increased in group II than in group I at that time. Group I showed moderate LFA-3 expression on corneal epithelium, corneal endothelium and inflammatory cells, and strong expression on corneal stroma and vascular endothelium at 72 hours after infection. Otherwise, LFA-3 expression in group II was weak to moderate n corneal epithelium, corneal endothelium and inflammatory cell, and moderate on corneal stroma and vascular endothelium. In this study, it was found that expression of LFA-3 in group I was weaker than that in group II in control and at 3 hours after intracorneal injection of C. albicans, but group I showed more strong LFA-3 expression than group II after 12 hours of intracorneal injection.