The expression of the plasmid DNA encoding TGF-beta 1 in endothelium after injection into the anterior chamber.

The method of gene transfer into corneal endothelium was investigated to provide a foundation for the study of TGF-beta 1 gene transfer to inhibit corneal graft rejection. Two days after direct injection of pMAM TGF-beta 1 mediated by liposome into the anterior chamber of rabbits, one half of corneas were made into paraffin slides and the endothelial layer was carefully torn from the other half to make a single layer slide of endothelia. By means of immunohistochemical technique, the plasmid pMAM TGF-beta 1 expression product TGF-beta 1 in the endothelia was detected. Specific TGF-beta 1 expression was positive in the endothelia on both the paraffin slide and the single layer slide. The results showed that by direct injection into the anterior chamber, foreign plasmid DNA could be transferred into the endothelia and its expression was obtained. This may provide a foundation for further study on TGF-beta 1 participating in local induction of corneal immune tolerance.