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Does innate immune privilege exist?
J W Streilein1, J Stein-Streilein
1Schepens Eye Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. waynes@vision.eri.harvard.edu
Journal of Leukocyte Biology
|April 19, 2000
Summary
The eye protects vision by regulating innate immunity. Aqueous humor contains factors that prevent immune cells like NK cells and neutrophils from causing intraocular inflammation, preserving sight.
Area of Science:
- Ocular immunology
- Immunoregulation
Background:
- The eye possesses immune privilege to prevent vision-impairing inflammation.
- Adaptive immunity regulation in the eye is well-studied.
- Innate immunity also causes inflammation and threatens vision if it occurs intraocularly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how the eye regulates innate immune responses.
- To identify factors in aqueous humor that control innate immunity within the eye.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of aqueous humor factors.
- Assessment of their effects on immune cells (NK cells, neutrophils, macrophages) and complement pathways.
Main Results:
- Aqueous humor contains factors like TGF-β2, α-MSH, CGRP, and MIF.
- These factors inhibit NK cell lysis, neutrophil activation, macrophage nitric oxide production, and complement activation.
- This prevents destruction of corneal endothelium and protects the visual axis.
Conclusions:
- The eye actively regulates innate immunity to maintain immune privilege.
- Specific aqueous humor factors prevent intraocular inflammation, protecting vision from immune-mediated damage.