Comparison of the antiangiogenic activity of intact and CD26/DPP IV–truncated CXCR3 ligands.

Hydron pellets were implanted in a corneal micropocket on a rabbit eye. Hydron pellets contained dilution buffer (A), 0.3 pmol natural human IL-8 (B), 0.3 pmol natural human IL-8 and 1 pmol intact IP-10(1-77) (C), or 0.3 pmol natural human IL-8 and 1 pmol of IP-10(3-77) (D). Neovascularization was scored daily (score 0-4) from days 4 to 8 and the maximal neovascularization (occurring between days 5 and 7) obtained with IL-8 with or without intact or CD26/DPP IV–truncated IP-10 or Mig is shown in panel E (each dot represents an independent experiment). The mean values are indicated by the lines and statistical analysis (comparison with the positive control that contained 0.3 pmol IL-8) was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The photographs in panels A to D are representative examples for the mean neovascularization scores obtained with IL-8 and IP-10 as indicated in panel E.