J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.
2000 Oct;41(10):2044-2050.
The Expression of IL-1 and TNF-alpham RNA in Alkali-burned Cornea in Rabbits
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, #92 Chilam-dong, Chinju, Gyeongsangnamdo, 660-280, Korea.
Abstract
- This study investigated the cytokines (IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-1RA, TNF-alpha) mRNA expression in the early inflammatory process of alkali burned rabbit corneas. To create alkali burns, each 4 cornea of New Zealand White rabbits were exposed to filtering paper (5 mm diameter) treated with 1N NaOH for 1 minute at room temperature.e. Two unburned rabbits corneas were used as control. The mRNA levels for IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-1RA, and TNF-alpha were monitored in corneas at 3, 6, 24, and 48 hours after alkali burn with semiquantative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Transcripts for IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and TNF-alphawere expressed in 3 hours and increased through 48 hours, whereas those for IL-1betawas expressed in 3 hours and was not changed through 48 hours. IL-1alphamRNA level was detected lower than IL-1betamRNA in 3 hours but IL-1alphamRNA level was persist higher than IL-1betafrom 6 hours through 48 hours. IL-1RA mRNA level was expressed higher than others through 48 hours. These results indicate that IL-1 and TNF-alphalevel in the cornea are elevated during the early inflammatory process of alkali burn. IL-1alpha, IL-RA and TNF-alphamay play an important role in alkali-burned corneal inflammatory process.
