Abstract
Purpose :
To explore the potential role of TSLP in adaptive immunity of fungal keratitis.
Methods :
Human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) were stimulated with Aspergillus fumigatus hyphae (106 pieces/ml) with or without TSLP siRNA. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were co-cultured with HCECs in a transwell system for various periods. Then we collected PBMCs and detected proliferation and activation as well as Th2 differentiation by flow cytometry and quantitative RT-PCR. IgG and IgA levels in supernatants of PBMCs were measured by means of ELISA.
Results :
Expression of TSLP was highly increased in HCECs stimulated with A. fumigatus hyphea. Aspergillus fumigatus-infected HCECs were capable of promoting human lymphocyte proliferation, and activating human CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and B cells by up-regulating expression of activation marker CD69. Importantly, Th2 differentiation of CD4+ T cells was induced during co-culture with A. fumigatus-infected HCECs in a transwell system. However, blockade of TSLP using siRNA prevented the proliferation and activation of lymphocytes as well as Th2 differentiation. We also detected an increased IgG level that was associated with TSLP.
Conclusions :
These findings suggested that HCEC-derived TSLP has a key role in adaptive immune responses of fungal keratitis via skewing Th2 differentiation and promoting humoral immunity.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.