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Human ocular mast cells
Martin K Church1, James I McGill
1Allergy and Inflammation Sciences, University of Southampton Medical School, Southampton, UK. mkc@soton.ac.uk
Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|February 13, 2003
Summary
Mast cells in the eye are key to seasonal allergic conjunctivitis symptoms. Modulating mast cell activity reduces acute symptoms and chronic inflammation by lowering cytokine release.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) is a common hypersensitivity response.
- Mast cells play a pivotal role in SAC symptoms like itching and redness.
- This review focuses on human conjunctival mast cell biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the biology of human mast cells in the conjunctiva.
- To understand the role of mast cells in seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on mast cell biology and SAC.
- Analysis of mast cell cytokine expression (IL-4, TNF-alpha) in SAC.
- Evaluation of mast cell stabilizing drug effects on tear mediators.
Main Results:
- Ocular mast cells release histamine, eicosanoids, IL-4, and TNF-alpha.
- IL-4 positive mast cells increase threefold in conjunctival submucosa during SAC.
- Nedocromil sodium eye drops significantly reduced histamine and prostaglandin D(2) in tears.
Conclusions:
- Mast cells are central to initiating SAC signs and symptoms.
- Cytokine expression by mast cells drives eosinophil accumulation in vernal conjunctivitis.
- Drug modulation of mast cells reduces acute symptoms and chronic inflammation stimuli.