Disease-Specific Expression of Conjunctiva Associated Lymphoid Tissue (CALT) in Mouse Models of Dry Eye Disease and Ocular Allergy
Open Access
- 11 October 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by MDPI AG in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Vol. 21 (20), 7514
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21207514
Abstract
Conjunctiva-associated tissue (CALT) is assumed to play a crucial role in the immune system of the ocular surface. Its function in several ocular surface diseases (OSD) is still not fully understood. This study investigates the function of CALT in mouse models of dry-eye disease and ocular allergy. Since antigen-presentation is the central similarity in the pathologies, this study focuses on antigen-presentation in CALT Morphology and the expression of CALT, which was investigated in mice after induction of dry-eye, ocular allergy, topical antigen-stimulation, and after local depletion of phagocytic cells. Antigen uptake was investigated after the application of fluorescent ovalbumin (OVA). OSD influences the appearance and morphology of CALT in a disease-dependent manner. Ocular allergy leads to an increase and dry-eye disease to a decrease in number and size of CALT. The development of CALT is dependent on the presence of APCs. Professional APCs are present in CALT, and soluble antigen is transported into the follicle. CALT appearance is disease-specific and indicative of differing functions. Although the specific involvement of CALT in OSD needs further study, the existence of functional APCS and antigen-uptake supports the hypothesis that CALT is an immunological key player at the ocular surface.Keywords
Funding Information
- Velux Stiftung (844)
This publication has 45 references indexed in Scilit:
- Ocular Mucosal CD11b+ and CD103+ Mouse Dendritic Cells under Normal Conditions and in Allergic Immune ResponsesPLOS ONE, 2013
- Dry Eye as a Mucosal Autoimmune DiseaseInternational Reviews of Immunology, 2013
- Autoantibodies Contribute to the Immunopathogenesis of Experimental Dry Eye DiseaseInvestigative Opthalmology & Visual Science, 2012
- CD169+ macrophages at the crossroads of antigen presentationTrends in Immunology, 2011
- Pharmacological Cholinergic Blockade Stimulates Inflammatory Cytokine Production and Lymphocytic Infiltration in the Mouse Lacrimal GlandInvestigative Opthalmology & Visual Science, 2011
- Development of Monocytes, Macrophages, and Dendritic CellsScience, 2010
- Multivesicular bodies in intestinal epithelial cells: responsible for MHC class II‐restricted antigen processing and origin of exosomesImmunology, 2008
- Role of muscarinic receptors in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responsesJournal of Neuroimmunology, 2008
- The Conjunctival Lymphoid Follicle in Mucosal ImmunologyDNA and Cell Biology, 2002
- Identification of T and B lymphocytes in the human conjunctiva and lacrimal gland in ocular diseases.British Journal of Ophthalmology, 1980