Rapamycin inhibits corneal allograft rejection and neovascularization
T. W. Olsen, N. M. Benegas, A. C. Joplin, T. Evangelista, E. A. Mindrup and E. J. Holland
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immunosuppressive effect of rapamycin in
prolonging allograft survival in the rat model of orthotopic allogeneic
penetrating keratoplasty. DESIGN: Thirty inbred Lewis rats received corneal
allografts from Brown Norway donors. Animals were divided into two
rapamycin treatment groups and one allogeneic control group. RESULTS: By
the second week after surgery, all of the control animals had experienced
allograft failure due to allograft rejection. However, allografts in seven
of 10 animals in the low-dose treatment group and allografts in seven of
nine animals in the high-dose treatment group remained clear. In addition,
corneal neovascularization was markedly reduced in the treated animals.
CONCLUSIONS: The systemic administration of rapamycin prolongs corneal
allograft survival and significantly inhibits the neovascular component of
rejection in the rat model of orthotopic allogeneic penetrating
keratoplasty.
