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CD4+ lymphocyte involvement in ocular Behçet's disease.
D G Charteris1, K Barton, A C McCartney
1Department of Clinical Science, Institute of Ophthalmology, London.
Autoimmunity
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Behçet
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Behçet's disease causes severe ocular inflammation and vision loss.
- Pathogenic mechanisms and ocular cellular infiltrates remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cellular infiltrates in Behçet's disease ocular inflammation.
- To elucidate mechanisms perpetuating ocular inflammation.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical staining of five enucleated Behçet's disease eyes.
- Comparison with control eyes with chronic intraocular inflammation.
Main Results:
- Mononuclear cell infiltrates, predominantly CD4+ T lymphocytes, were found in choroid and periretinal scars.
- Macrophages were present; B lymphocytes and NK cells were infrequent.
- No complement or immunoglobulin deposits were detected; infiltrating cells were HLA DR positive.
Conclusions:
- Cell-mediated immunity, not immune complexes, perpetuates ocular inflammation in Behçet's disease.
- CD4+ T lymphocytes play a central role in Behçet's disease ocular inflammation.