Lymphatic vessels identified in failed corneal transplants with neovascularisation

Background Corneal transplant failure with neovascularisation is a leading indication for full-thickness grafts in patients. Lymphangiogenesis is implicated in the pathology of graft failure, and here we systematically evaluate failed human corneal transplants with neovascularisation for the presence of lymphatic vessels. Methods Nine failed grafts with neovascularisation, based on H VEGFR-3 and LYVE-1 . All immunofluorescence and FISH samples were compared with positive and negative controls and visualised by confocal microscopy. Results Corneal neovascularisation was established in all cases by H VEGFR-3 and LYVE-1 mRNAs. Conclusions The consistent finding of lymphatic vessels in failed grafts with neovascularisation implicates them in the pathogenesis of corneal transplant failure, and points to the lymphatics as a potential new therapeutic target.