Volume 14, Number 3, 313-322, DOI: 10.1007/s11373-007-9153-7

Inhibition of corneal neovascularization with endostatin delivered by adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector in a mouse corneal injury model

Li-Ju Lai, Xiao Xiao and June H. Wu

View Related Documents

Abstract

The use of a recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vector carrying endostatin gene as an anti-angiogenesis strategy to treat corneal neovascularization in a mouse model was evaluated. Subconjunctival injection of recombinant endostatin-AAV was used to examine the inhibition of corneal neovascularization induced by silver nitrate cauterization in mice. The results showed that gene expression in corneal tissue was observed as early as 4 days after gene transfer and stably lasted for over 8 months with minimal immune reaction. Subconjunctival injection of a high-titer rAAV-endostatin successfully inhibited neovascularization. Immunohistchemistry staining of CD 31 and endostatin showed that the treatment significantly inhibits angiogenesis in cornea. We concluded that the rAAV was capable of directly delivering genes to the ocular surface epithelium by way of subconjunctival injection and was able to deliver sustained, high levels of gene expression in vivo to inhibit angiogenesis.

Keywords  adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector - angiogenesis - corneal neovascularization - endostatin gene - gene therapy - ocular surface disease

Fulltext Preview

Image of the first page of the fulltext document