Spontaneous Cell Death in Polymorphonuclear Cells From Behcet’s Disease With Uveitis

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: Behcet’s disease (BD) presents recurrent acute iridocyclitis with hypopyon. The hypopyon consists of inflammatory cells infiltrating into the eye, most of that are polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). Fas ligand, which is constitutively expressed in the eye, is known to be a chemoattractive factor PMNs, while Fas plays a critical role in their spontaneous cell death. In this study, we examined whether PMNs from BD patients with uveitis were resistant for spontaneous cell death, and whether the cell death was modulated by activity of the ocular disease. Methods: Peripheral blood cells were prepared from 30 BD patients with uveitis (15 patients were with ocular attacks, and the other 15 were not) and 15 healthy controls. PMNs were isolated and cultured in completed RPMI1640 with 10% FCS for 12 and 36. Cultured cells were stained with Annexin V–Cy 5, or Propidium Iodide (P.I), and apoptotic cells were measured by flow cytometory. Furthermore, anti–Fas antibody, TNFa, or LPS was added into cultures of PMNs, and apoptotic cells were analyzed as well. Results: Spontaneous cell death of PMNs was significantly suppressed in BD patients during the inactive phase, whereas that was increased during the ocular attacks. Although TNFa and LPS inhibited the cell death in these groups with equal proportion, PMNs from BD patients in the inactive phase were apparently resistant for Fas–mediated apoptosis. Conclusions: It was suggested that PMNs from BD patients with uveitis were primarily resistant for the spontaneous cell death via Fas–mediated pathway.

Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model • apoptosis/cell death • clinical laboratory testing