Immunofluorescence of rabbit corneas after collagen cross-linking treatment with riboflavin and ultraviolet A.

PURPOSE: To assess ultrastructural modifications in keratocytes and inflammatory cell response in rabbit corneas after riboflavin and ultraviolet A exposure using immunofluorescence microscopy.
METHODS: Twenty adult New Zealand albino rabbits weighing 2.0–3.0 kg were used in this study. Two rabbits served as controls.The animals had their epithelia removed and were cross-linked with riboflavin 0.1% solution (10 mg riboflavin-5-phosphate in 10 mL of 20% dextran-T-500) applied every 3 minutes for 30 minutes, and exposed to ultraviolet A (360 nm, 3 mW/cm2) for 30 minutes. Four rabbits were humanely euthanized at each time point of 1, 3, and 11 days and at 3 and 5 weeks after the procedure. Immunohistochemistry studies of thin sections of each cornea were performed using terminal deoxynucleotyl transferase–mediated uridine triphosphate biotin nick-end labeling staining, alpha smooth muscle actin (a-SMA),CD-3, myeloperoxidase antibodies, and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole(DAPI) counterstaining. In another experiment, 6 additional rabbits were treated as above, and after 10 days of cross-linking, 5 mL of lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (1 mg/mL) was injected in the midstroma.
RESULTS: Cross-linked corneas showed early stromal edema. By 5 weeks, complete resolution of the edema and a pronounced highly-organized anterior 200-mm fluorescent zone was observed. Terminal deoxynucleotyl transferase mediated uridine triphosphate biotin nick-end labeling staining showed keratocyte death by both necrosis and apoptosis between days 1 and 3 after cross-linking. At day 1,the limbal area close to the cross-linking zone showed some inflammatory cells and a-SMA–positive cells, indicative of the presence of myofibroblasts. By day 3, some myofibroblasts had migrated to the area beneath the cross-linked stroma. Between days 3 and 5 weeks, there was an increase in a-SMA staining in the area surrounding the cross-linked stroma. The area of cross-linking remained acellular up to 5 weeks.
CONCLUSIONS: Collagen cross-linking results in early edema,keratocyte apoptosis, and necrosis, appearance of inflammatory cells in the surrounding area of treatment and transformation of surrounding keratocytes into myofibroblasts. Compaction of anterior stroma fibers, keratocyte loss, and displacement of cell nuclei including inflammatory cells may have clinical implications in the long-term risk of further corneal thinning in keratoconus and in the cross-linked corneal immune response.