| Lu Chen, M.D., Ph.D
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Role of Corneal Lymphangiogenesis
in Alloimmunity
Previous data from our lab indicate that
lymphatic function plays an important role in corneal immunity.
For example, the Dana lab has shown that after transplantation
graft-derived transgenic bone marrow-derived GFP positive
cells appear in the host cervical lymph nodes, and this traffic
is significantly enhanced from high-risk (vascularized and
lymphatic-rich) beds (Liu Y., et al, 2001). Another related
study showed that corneally grafted hosts that had their cervical
lymph nodes excised before the surgery demonstrated indefinite
graft acceptance (Yamagami S. & Dana M.R., 2001).We propose
therefore to investigate the molecular mechanisms of corneal
lymphangiogenesis both to gain insight into this critical
process, as well as to regulate it as a means of modulating
generation of immunity to corneal antigens. The study will
determine the roles of several newly defined lymphatic molecules
including VEGFR-3, LYVE-1, Prox-1, and SLC in corneal lymphangiogenesis,
APC trafficking, and lymphatic drainage as they relate to
corneal alloimmunity. We anticipate that this study will provide
knowledge necessary for manipulating the processes involved
in corneal lymphangiogenesis and APC trafficking, with likely
implications beyond transplant immunology alone.
Publications
Chen L, Cooper NGF, and Mower GD. Subunit
compositional changes of NMDA receptors during postnatal development
of the cat visual cortex and the effects of dark rearing.
Brain Res. Mol. Brain Res. 2000; 78: 196-200.
Chen L and Mower GD. Expressional changes
of GABA-A receptor subunits during postnatal development of
the cat visual cortex and the effects of dark rearing. Brain
Res. Mol. Brain Res. 2001; 88: 135-143.
Chen L, Hamrah P, Liu Y, Zhang Q, Dana MR.
VEGFR-3 in corneal lymphangiogenesis and APC trafficking.
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO),
Fort Lauderdale, 2002. Abstract.
Hamrah P, Chen L, Zhang Q, Joyce NC, and
Dana MR. Novel expression of vascular endothelial growth factor
receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) on monocytic bone marrow-derived cells
in the conjunctiva. Submitted.
Cursiefen C, Chen L, Dana MR, Streilein
JW. Corneal Lymphangiogenesis: evidence, mechanisms and implications
for corneal transplant immunology. Submitted.
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