Objective：To evaluate the probability and efficacy of endostatin-vascular endothelial growth inhibitor （VEGI） recombinant adenoviruses combined with dexamethasone on suppressing heterolamellar corneal transplantation rejection. Methods： Heterolamellar corneal transplantation models were established in 64 New Zealand rabbits, which were randomized into 4 groups of 16 rabbits each. After the transplantation, all the 64 right eyes were injected subconjunctively with 0.2 ml saline （saline group）, 0. 1 ml AdCA13-hENDO-VEGI151 plus 0. 1 ml saline （AdCA13-hENDO-VEGI151 group）, 0. 1 ml Dexamethasone （DXM） plus 0.1 ml saline （DXM group）, 0. 1 ml AdCA13-hENDO-VEGI151 plus 0. 1 ml DXM （AdCA13-hENDO-VEGI151 combined with DXM group） with one time each 3 days for 10 times. Graft survival and ocular surface were observed for 6 weeks. The fusion protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry 6 weeks after transplantation. Results： Both the CNV index, rejection index and the xenograft rejection rate in the AdCA13-hENDO-VEGI151 combined with DXM group were statistically lower than those in other groups. AdCA13-hENDO-VEGI151 combined with DXM group： 1. 375 0±0. 500 0, 2. 750 0 ±1. 843 9 and 6.25% respectively 6 week after keratoplasty; Saline group： 3. 437 5±0. 512 3, 8. 812 5± 1. 108 7, 100. 00%; AdCA13-hENDO-VEGI151 group： 2. 312 5±0. 478 7, 5. 625 0±0. 957 4, 62.50%; DXM group： 3. 000 0±0. 816 5, 5. 562 5±1. 315 0, 56.25% （P〈0.01）. Immunohistochemical staining showed the fusion protein expressed mainly in corneal epithelium. Conclusion： The fusion protein expressed by the recombinant adenovirus has significant effect on inhibiting neovascularization after heterolamellar corneal transplantation. The topical application of AdCA13-hENDO-VEGI151 combined with DXM suppressed effectively the postoperative xenograft rejection rate of heterolamellar corneal transplantation.
