BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) has been shown to affect wound repair. Ariti -transforming growth factor βl antibodies have been shown to neutralize its activity.
METHODS: Seventeen New Zealand White rabbits underwent unilateral photorefractive keratectomy followed by corneal staining with dichlorotriazinyl fluorescein. Three groups received topical transforming growth factor βl: 1 µg/ml, 10 µg/ml, and 100/µg/ml; one group topical anti-transforming growth factor β antibody (200µg/ml); and a control group vehicle only. Corneal haze was graded from 0 to 4, weekly. Rabbits were sacrificed at 5 weeks and histopathological analysis and fluorescence microscopy performed.
RESULTS: All treated eyes developed haze and had epithelial erosions. No statistically significant differences in haze score were seen among individual treatment groups (Kruskal Wallis p > 0.05). The anti-transforming growth factor β antibody group had less haze than all other groups at every week after the first. Comparing all transforming growth factor βl treated eyes as one group to the antibody group, significantly less haze was seen at weeks 3 and 4 in the antibody treated group (p = 0.028 and 0.013, respectively). This study is limited by small group size and further studies are needed to confirm these results.
CONCLUSION: TGF-β may be involved in stromal haze formation, and topical anti-TGF-βl antibody may help reduce the development of stromal haze. [J Refract Surg 1997;13:356-361]
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