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ABSTRACT: Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine the role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) c-Rel during acute corneal transplant rejection and whether targeting c-Rel can reduce corneal transplant rejection.Methods
Allogeneic corneal transplantation was performed in wild-type and c-Rel-deficient mice. Corneal graft survival rate, opacity, neovascularization, and edema were evaluated by slit-lamp microscopy. Adeno-associated virus 6 (AAV6) expressing c-Rel-specific small hairpin RNA (AAV6-shRel) and the small-molecule compound pentoxifylline (PTXF) were used to reduce c-Rel expression. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the expression of inflammatory cytokines. c-Rel expression was determined by quantitative RT-PCR and western blot. The effect of c-Rel inhibition on corneal transplant rejection was examined using a mouse model of acute allogeneic corneal transplantation. Tear production and corneal sensitivity were measured to determine the potential toxicity of AAV6-shRel and PTXF.Results
The expression of c-Rel and its inflammatory targets was increased in both mice and patients with corneal transplant rejection. Loss of c-Rel reduced corneal transplant rejection in mouse. Both AAV6-shRel and PTXF were able to downregulate the expression of c-Rel and its inflammatory targets in vitro. Treatment with AAV6-shRel or PTXF reduced corneal transplant rejection in mouse and downregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with corneal transplant rejection. Treatment with AAV6-shRel or PTXF displayed no side effects on tear production or corneal sensitivity.Conclusions
Increased expression of c-Rel is a risk factor for acute corneal transplant rejection, and targeting c-Rel can efficiently reduce corneal transplant rejection.
SUBMITTER: Zheng Q
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10653260 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 20231101 14
<h4>Purpose</h4>The purpose of this study was to determine the role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) c-Rel during acute corneal transplant rejection and whether targeting c-Rel can reduce corneal transplant rejection.<h4>Methods</h4>Allogeneic corneal transplantation was performed in wild-type and c-Rel-deficient mice. Corneal graft survival rate, opacity, neovascularization, and edema were evaluated by slit-lamp microscopy. Adeno-associated virus 6 (AAV6) expressing c-Rel-specific small hairpi ...[more]