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