Effect of allergic conjunctival inflammation on the allogeneic response to donor cornea.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Immunologic rejection is the most common cause of corneal allograft rejection. Ipsilateral ocular inflammation has been identified as a predictor of future corneal graft failure. This study investigates the effect of perioperative allergic conjunctivitis on corneal allograft survival.

METHODS:

C57BL6 donor corneas were transplanted into naive A/J mice, A/J mice sensitized to short ragweed (SRW) pollen by intraperitoneal injection and then challenged with topical SRW to induce allergic conjunctivitis (Sens(+)Chall(+)), and A/J mice sensitized to SRW and challenged with topical PBS (Sens(+)Chall(-)). Syngeneic grafts were also performed in eyes with allergic conjunctivitis. Graft survival and infiltrating cell phenotype in rejected grafts were compared between groups.

RESULTS:

Mice with allergic conjunctivitis (Sens(+)Chall(+)) rejected corneal allografts significantly more quickly than naive mice. Syngeneic grafts in allergic eyes survived indefinitely. The rate of rejection in Sens(+)Chall(-) mice was similar to that in naive mice. There were no significant differences, between groups, in the numbers of infiltrating CD4(+) cells, CD8(+) cells, and macrophages at the time of graft rejection. Eosinophils were seldom observed in rejected grafts in naive and Sens(+)Chall(-) mice but were observed consistently in Sens(+)Chall(+) eyes. Eosinophils were also found consistently in the ciliary body of Sens(+)Chall(+) eyes at the time of graft rejection.

CONCLUSIONS:

Active allergic conjunctivitis at the time of transplantation accelerates corneal allograft rejection. Local conjunctival inflammation is an important factor in accelerating rejection.

• Authors: Thomas H Flynn, Masaharu Ohbayashi, Yoshifumi Ikeda, Santa J Ono, Daniel F Larkin
• Journal: Investigative ophthalmology & visual science (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci) Vol. 48 Issue 9 Pg. 4044-9 (Sep 2007) ISSN: 0146-0404 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17724186 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Allergens
• CD11b Antigen
• CD11c Antigen

Topics

• Allergens
• Ambrosia (immunology)
• Animals
• CD11b Antigen
• CD11c Antigen
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (physiology)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (physiology)
• Conjunctivitis, Allergic (complications, immunology)
• Cornea (immunology)
• Corneal Transplantation (immunology)
• Female
• Graft Rejection (etiology, immunology)
• Graft Survival (physiology)
• Immunoenzyme Techniques
• Macrophages (physiology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred A
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Pollen (immunology)
• Tissue Donors
• Transplantation, Homologous