The anti-inflammatory effect of subconjunctival bevacizumab on chemically burned rat corneas.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of bevacizumab in a model of corneal inflammation.
Materials and Methods: Epithelium from the cornea and limbus was completely removed using 100% alcohol in rats. Bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 ml) or normal saline was subconjunctivally injected. One week later, corneas were examined and subjected to hematoxylin-eosin and immunofluorescent staining for VEGF. Expression of IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-6, and TGF-beta 1 were analyzed by ELISA.
Results: Bevacizumab showed a borderline reduction in corneal neovascularization (11.0 +/- 4.8% and 18.0 +/- 10.0% in the bevacizumab and control groups, respectively; p = 0.054), while the extent of epithelialization was not affected (5.0 +/- 3.4% and 6.1 +/- 5.2% in the bevacizumab and control groups, respectively; p = 0.715). The infiltration of inflammatory cells was reduced (99.3 +/- 22.3 cells/x 400 in the bevacizumab-injected corneas and 182.3 +/- 58.0 cells/x 400 in the controls; p = 0.013). The levels of IL-2, IFN-gamma, and IL-6 were decreased in the rats with the bevacizumab injections (44 +/- 6 and 79 +/- 9 pg/ml for IL-2 in the bevacizumab-injected group and control, respectively, p = 0.025; 45 +/- 5 and 67 +/- 6 pg/ml for IFN-gamma in the bevacizumab-injected group and controls, respectively, p = 0.043; 45 +/- 6 and 75 +/- 8 pg/ml for IL-6 in the bevacizumab-injected group and controls, respectively, p = 0.030).
Conclusions: Bevacizumab showed a reduction in inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokines in chemically burned rat corneas.