Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha and Interleukin-6 Facilitate Corneal Lymphangiogenesis in Response to Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infection

Abstract

We have identified at least two proinflammatory cytokines expressed locally that are involved in the genesis of lymphatic vessels in the normally avascular cornea in response to HSV-1 infection. This finding provides the basis to target IL-6 and TNF-α as additional proangiogenic factors in the cornea during the development of herpetic stromal keratitis as a means to alleviate further neovascularization and tissue pathology associated with the host immune response to the pathogen.