AIM:To investigate the effect of amniotic membrane transplantation(AMT) on the expressions of inflammatory-related,angiogenic-related and growth-related cytokines in rat corneas after chemical injury.METHODS:Alkali wounds were inflicted on the central corneas of rats by applying a round filter paper soaked in 1mol/L NaOH for 40 seconds.One week after alkali burn,12 rats were randomly divided into 2 groups:the AMT group and the control group,and AMT was performed on the rats in the AMT group.Corneal opacity and neovascularization were observed by slit-lamp microscopy.The protein levels of interleukin(IL)-2,interferon(IFN)-γ,IL-10 and transforming growth factor(TGF)-β were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay 2 weeks after AMT.The mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2),vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),epidermal growth factor(EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) were evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR.· RESULTS:In the AMT group,the corneal opacity was improved(P=0.011) and the area of corneal neovasc-ularization was significantly decreased(P =0.005) compared with the control group.The amount of IL-2 and IFN-γ secreted by Th1 cells were decreased after AMT,whereas the amount of IL-10 and TGF-β secreted by Th2 cells were increased(P<0.05).The level of MMP-2 was significantly down-regulated(P =0.013) at the mRNA level in the AMT group,while the expression of EGF was significantly higher(P=0.022) compared with the control.CONCLUSION:AMT may suppress corneal neovascularization after chemical injury by modulating the expressions of soluble factors. AIM: To investigate the effect of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) on the expressions of inflammatory-related, angiogenic-related and growth-related cytokines in rat corneas after chemical injury. METHODS: Alkali wounds were inflicted on the central corneas of rats by applying One round of filter paper soaked in 1 mol / L NaOH for 40 seconds. One week after alkali burn, 12 rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: the AMT group and the control group, and AMT was performed on the rats in the AMT group. Corneal opacity and neovascularization were observed by slit-lamp microscopy.The protein levels of interleukin (IL) -2, interferon (IFN) -γ, IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF) -β were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay 2 weeks after AMT.The mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were were evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: In the AMT group, the corneal opa The city was improved (P = 0.011) and the area of ​​corneal neovasc-ularization was significantly decreased (P = 0.005) compared with the control group. The amount of IL-2 and IFN-γ secreted by Th1 cells were decreased after AMT, the amount of IL-10 and TGF-β secreted by Th2 cells were increased (P <0.05). The level of MMP-2 was significantly down-regulated of EGF was significantly higher (P = 0.022) compared with the control. CONCLUSION: AMT may suppress corneal neovascularization after chemical injury by modulating the expressions of soluble factors.