March 2012
Volume 53, Issue 14
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   March 2012
In Vivo Confocal Microscopy of Immune Cells in the Cornea of Normal Subjects Demonstrates Irregular Peripheral Distribution of Dendritic Cells
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Clara M. Colon
    Cornea Service,
    Ocular Surface Imaging Center,
    Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Bernardo M. Cavalcanti
    Cornea Service,
    Ocular Surface Imaging Center,
    Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Andrea Cruzat
    Cornea Service,
    Ocular Surface Imaging Center,
    Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Yureeda Qazi
    Cornea Service,
    Ocular Surface Imaging Center,
    Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Candice Williams
    Cornea Service,
    Ocular Surface Imaging Center,
    Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Douglas B. Critser
    Contact Lens Service, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
  • Amy Watts
    Contact Lens Service,
    Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Charles Leahy
    Contact Lens Service,
    Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Christine W. Sindt
    Contact Lens Service, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
  • Pedram Hamrah
    Cornea Service,
    Ocular Surface Imaging Center,
    Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  Clara M. Colon, None; Bernardo M. Cavalcanti, None; Andrea Cruzat, None; Yureeda Qazi, None; Candice Williams, None; Douglas B. Critser, None; Amy Watts, Alcon Research, LTD (F); Charles Leahy, Alcon Research, LTD (F); Christine W. Sindt, Alcon Research, LTD (F); Pedram Hamrah, Alcon Research, LTD, (F)
  • Footnotes
    Support  NIH K08-EY020575, New England Corneal Transplant Research Fund, Falk Medical Research Trust, Alcon Research LTD
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science March 2012, Vol.53, 94. doi:
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      Clara M. Colon, Bernardo M. Cavalcanti, Andrea Cruzat, Yureeda Qazi, Candice Williams, Douglas B. Critser, Amy Watts, Charles Leahy, Christine W. Sindt, Pedram Hamrah; In Vivo Confocal Microscopy of Immune Cells in the Cornea of Normal Subjects Demonstrates Irregular Peripheral Distribution of Dendritic Cells. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2012;53(14):94.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose: : To determine the density of epithelial immune cells in the central and four peripheral quadrants in corneas of normal subjects.

Methods: : Sixty-five normal subjects (130 eyes) were enrolled and underwent laser in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM; HRT3/RCM) of the central cornea, as well as superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal quadrants. Slit-lamp examination was performed to confirm lack of ocular findings. Images were assessed for dendritic cells (DC) and non-dendritic immune cells (IC) density by three masked observers. Statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA with Bonferroni correction to compare the differences between the 5 areas.

Results: : IVCM revealed the presence of central and peripheral corneal DC in all subjects. The mean ± SD DC density was 41.01 ± 48.03 cells/mm2 centrally. Interestingly, while DC density was higher in all 4 quadrants (p-value <0.0001), the superior and inferior quadrants demonstrate the highest DC density with 95.2 ± 49.6 cells/mm2 superiorly and 108.8 ± 75.2 cells/mm2 inferiorly as compared to 49.3 ± 28.11 cells/mm2 temporally and 60.6 ± 41.5 cells/mm2 nasally. IC density was overall extremely low with highest density temporally (1.2 ± 3.8 cells/mm2) and lowest density centrally (0.7 ± 2.0 cells/mm2), although no statistical difference was detected when comparing the five areas. Excellent inter-observer variability was observed between observers (r=0.96) for all areas combined.

Conclusions: : IVCM revealed increased peripheral DC density as compared to the central cornea. Significant variation in DC density was observed between peripheral quadrants. This variability suggests that measurement of peripheral DC density should not be performed randomly for cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. With the increased use of IVCM to detect subclinical inflammatory changes, the normative data may serve as the basis for future clinical studies and trials.

Clinical Trial: : http://www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01250925

Keywords: imaging/image analysis: clinical • inflammation • microscopy: confocal/tunneling 
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