Abstract: AIM: To investigate the possible use of anti-FGF-2 nanobody for the treatment of pathological neovascularization.  METHODS: SD rats were divided into a sham operation group, a control group (3 mm diameter circular filter paper soaked with 1 mol/L NaOH solution was applied to the central part of the cornea of rats for 30 s to prepare the rat model of alkali-burn angiogenesis) and a treatment group (treated with a drop of 3 mg/mL anti-FGF-2 nanobody 7 days after the operation. Repeat application 3x/day for 14 days). Corneal angiogenesis was measured by stereoscopic microscopy and CD31 immunohistochemical staining. The mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF and FGF-2 were detected by quantitative fluorescence PCR (qPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: (1) Blood vessel: The area of the treatment group was significantly reduced compared with the model group, and the vascular lumen was narrower (P<0.05). The difference was the most significant after 14 days of drug intervention; (2) Expression level of FGF-2 mRNA and protein: the model group had similar results to the treatment group (P>0.05); (3) Expression levels of VEGF mRNA and protein: The treatment group was significantly higher than the model group (P<0.05). In addition, the expression of VEGF also increased significantly in the continuous administration of the sham operation group. CONCLUSION: Anti-FGF-2 nanobody can be used for the treatment of angiogenesis. However, the expressions of VEGF will compensatorily increase after blocking FGF-2 in normal or pathological rats. 

Key words: corneal neovascularization, fibroblast growth factor 2, vascular endothelial growth factor, nanobody