Alpha‐1‐‐antitrypsin in aqueous humour from patients with corneal allograft rejection

Abstract

To investigate the presence and concentration of alpha1-antitrypsin in aqueous humour at the time of corneal rejection and to compare results obtained from patients with reversible and irreversible rejection. Samples of aqueous humour were obtained from 17 patients with acute corneal endothelial allograft rejection. The presence of alpha1-antitrypsin in aqueous humour was confirmed by immunoblotting and measured employing a sandwich ELISA. Total protein concentrations in aqueous humour were measured using Bradford's method. The outcome of corneal rejection episodes was determined 1 month after diagnosing corneal rejection and described as reversible or irreversible rejection. alpha1-antitrypsin was detected in aqueous humour. Patients with reversible rejection had significantly higher alpha1-antitrypsin concentration than patients with irreversible rejection (p = 0.044). There was no significant difference in total protein concentrations (p = 0.745), and no correlation was found between alpha1-antitrypsin and total protein concentrations (p = 0.368). alpha1-antitrypsin in aqueous humour seems to signal a favourable outcome of corneal rejection. The possible mechanism is discussed.