AIM: To study the effect of exogenous IL-10 transfection to dendritic cells(DC)of rat on expression of IL-4 and IFN- γ in aqueous humor after corneal transplantation.

METHODS: Cells of 8-DC, GFP-DC and IL-10-GFP-DC were prepared. Totally 55 SD rats were randomly selected 6(6 eyes), as a negative control group, the rest were randomly divided into 4 groups: positive control group, injected of 1mL PBS by receptor tail vein 3 days before surgery, and 8-DC group, GFP-DC group, IL-10-GFP-DC group, respectively, injected of 1mL cell suspension(8-DC, GFP-DC and IL-10-GFP-DC)have been prepared by receptor tail vein 3 days before surgery. Wistar rats as donor, keratoplasty was performed. The rats corneal graft status was examined after operation, and ELISA method was used to detect the expression of IL-4, IFN- γ in aqueous humor at the fourteenth day after operation.

RESULTS: The survival time of corneal graft in group IL-10-GFP-DC was significantly prolonged. Expression of IL-4 in group IL-10-GFP-DC cytokines was higher than that in other groups, while the expression of IFN- γ was lower than other groups, the difference was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: Exogenous IL-10 gene transfection to immature dendritic cells could inhibit corneal allograft rejection, and induce the formation of immune tolerance. The disturbance over the expression of cytokines IL-4, IFN- γ in aqueous humor is one of the mechanisms for the induction of immune tolerance in corneal transplantation.