Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To evaluate cytokine production by human corneal endothelial cells (EC) and keratocytes (KC) and their effects on ocular infiltrating T cells in order to investigate the role of corneal EC and KC in the immunoregulation of the anterior chamber. Methods: The tissue samples of EC and KC were isolated from eye bank eyes and cultured in DMEM containing 10%FBS. Cytokines in the culture were measured by ELISA (TGF-ß2, interleukin (IL)-12, MIF) and cytometric bead array kit (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10). T cell clones (TCCs) were established from ocular infiltrating cells of a patient with HTLV-I uveitis. The pathological roles of EC and KC were evaluated in terms of regulatory effects on IFN-γ production by the TCCs. Results: MIF was detected in each supernatant of EC (1.80 ± 1.18ng/ml) and KC (1.93 ± 0.85ng/ml). TGF-ß2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 were not detected in the supernatants of EC and KC. The supernatants of both EC and KC enhanced IFN-γ production by TCCs in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: Corneal endothelial cells and keratocytes secrete MIF, and that may enhance IFN-γ production by ocular infiltrating T cells.
Keywords: 371 cornea: endothelium • 374 cornea: stroma and keratocytes • 380 cytokines/chemokines