Intracameral injection of allogeneic lymphocytes enhances corneal graft survival.

Failure of corneal grafts is thought to involve the development and activation of specifically sensitized T-cells. One method which might be used to circumvent the development of such cells is the phenomenon of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID). Injection of antigen into the anterior chamber of the eye leads to an immune response characterized by normal antibody response coupled with depressed T-cell reactivity especially as measured by delayed-type hypersensitivity. To determine if this phenomenon could be used to alter the course of graft failure, potential recipients (Lewis rats) were injected intracamerally (IC) with allogeneic lymphoid cells (Wistar-Furth). Orthotopic, full-thickness, penetrating keratoplasty was done 0-30 days later, and the recipients were observed for at least 60 days. Approximately 75% of Wistar-Furth corneal grafts placed on uninjected Lewis rats failed as evidenced by continued opacity, edema, and infiltration of mononuclear cells into the grafts. The IC injection of Wistar-Furth lymphocytes decreased this failure rate to 25% and 50% when grafting was done 14 and 7 days after injection, respectively. Grafts of cornea from a third strain onto IC injected animals failed at an intermediate rate which demonstrated some immunologic protection. The results of these studies indicate that IC injection of allogeneic lymphocytes results in prolonged acceptance of corneal grafts syngeneic with the injected lymphocytes.