Corneal transplantation for the treatment of corneal blindness is challenging in many countries due to the shortage of graft procurement. Xenocorneal transplantation is an interesting alternative to explore despite immunologic rejection, which mainly involves endothelial cells. As anterior lamellar keratoplasty, when indicated, shows less immunologic reaction, we developed and describe below a pig-to-non-human-primate model of anterior lamellar corneal xenograft. This model can be used to assess the efficacy of corneas from genetically modified pigs.
Keywords: Anterior lamellar keratoplasty; CTLA4Ig; Corneal transplantation; Pig; Primate; Xenotransplantation.