Inhibition of corneal neovascularization by vascular endothelia growth inhibitor gene

AIM: To evaluate the effect of Effectene (TM) lipofectine mediated plasmids encoding human pcDNA(4)-vascular endothelia growth inhibitor (pcDNA(4)-VEGI) gene on corneal neovascularization (CNV). METHODS: Forty New Zealand albino rabbits were sutured by 5-0 silk on the superior cornea to induce CNV and divided into 4 random teams, ten per each team: team A: transfected by pcDNA(4)-VEGI gene mediated by Effectene (TM) lipofectine transfection; team B: by plasmid pcDNA(4); team C: by Effectene (TM), and team D: by normal saline. Length and area of CNV were observed under slit lamp every day after transfection. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of VEGI protein in corneas at day 3, 7, 14 and 21. RESULTS: 1) Average occurrence of CNV was 6.3 days in team A, 3.1 days in team B, 3.2 clays in team C, and 3.2 days in team D. Difference was significant between A and other teams (P<0.01); 2) Length and average area of CNV in each period in team A was significantly different from those in team B, C and D (P<0.01); 3) VEGI expressions were observed in epithelium, stroma, endothelium and the cliff of CNV in team A at 3 days after transfection by immunohistochemical staining. None VEGI positive cells were found in the control teams (team B, C and D) all the time. CONCLUSION: Effectene (TM) lipofectine transfection technique can effectively transfect pcDNA(4)-VEGI gene into rabbit cornea and the length and CNV areas can be inhibited by VEGI gene.