Effects of Corneal Neovascularization on TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 2 mRNA Expression in Endotoxin Induced Uveitis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We tried to evaluate the expression of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 2 mRNA during the course of the endotoxin induced uveitis (EIU) in rat after inducing neovascularization on cornea. METHODS: Reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction amplification was used to determine relative mRNA level in two ocular tissues (iris-ciliary body, cornea) at 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 48 hours after subcutaneous injection of 200 ug of Escherichia coli endotoxin. RESULT: Rat with corneal neovascularization showed somewhat different pattern of expression. TGF-beta 2 mRNA expression was showed some fluctuations in cornea. TGF-beta 2 mRNA expression in cornea was decreased within 3 hours after endotoxin treatment and increased gradually after 6 hours until 48 hours. CONCLUSION: TGF-beta2 might be one of the important cytokines in EIU, especially animals with neovascularization on cornea.