Inhibition of lymphocyte-induced angiogenesis by enzymatically isolated rabbit cornea cells.

Corneal and kidney cells were isolated from adult rabbits by enzymatic digestion. The were tested for anti-angiogeneic activity by the lymphocyte-induced angiogenesis assay. In this assay an intradermal injection of semi-allogeneic lymphocytes resulted in a new blood vessel formation visible after three days at the injection site. Isolated rabbit cells were mixed in 1:10 ratio with murine lymphocytes and injected into 600 R X-ray irradiated mice. Number of newly formed blood vessels evoked by lymphocytes injected alone or with rabbit cells added was counted. Corneal cells but not kidney cells decreased angiogenesis evoked by lymphocytes. This finding is discussed in view of corneal avascularity and pathological neo-vascularization.