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C3 fixed in vivo to cornea from horses inoculated with Leptospira interrogans
A E Parma1, S I Cerone, S A Sansinanea
1Lab. Inmunoquimica y Biotecnologia, Facultad Cs. Veterinarias, Univ. Nac. del Centro PBA, Tandil, Argentina.
Abstract:
C3 was detected bound in vivo to the opaque cornea of horses inoculated with killed Leptospira interrogans. Employing epithelial corneal cells isolated from a monolayer in tissue culture, we proved that C3 is fixed in vitro to the intact cell surface after incubation with a fresh equine anti-Leptospira serum. These findings, in addition to the infiltration of cornea with neutrophils and lymphocytes, may explain the mechanisms of tissue damage in recurrent uveitis of horses with leptospirosis.
Insights
Complement C3 protein binds to the equine cornea during Leptospira infection. This binding, along with immune cell infiltration, may cause tissue damage in horses with recurrent leptospirosis uveitis.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Ophthalmology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Recurrent uveitis in horses is a significant cause of vision loss.
- Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can affect horses.
- The pathogenesis of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of complement component 3 (C3) in the corneal pathology of horses with leptospirosis.
- To elucidate the in vivo and in vitro mechanisms of C3 deposition on the equine cornea.
Main Methods:
- Detection of C3 bound to the cornea of horses experimentally infected with killed Leptospira interrogans.
- In vitro experiments using isolated equine corneal epithelial cells incubated with anti-Leptospira serum.
- Histopathological examination of corneal tissue for immune cell infiltration.
Main Results:
- Complement C3 was detected bound in vivo to the cornea of horses infected with Leptospira.
- In vitro studies confirmed C3 fixation to intact corneal epithelial cells upon incubation with equine anti-Leptospira serum.
- Corneal tissue showed infiltration by neutrophils and lymphocytes.
Conclusions:
- Complement C3 deposition on the equine cornea occurs during Leptospira infection.
- C3 fixation to corneal epithelial cells may be an early event in the immune response.
- These immunological findings contribute to understanding the mechanisms of tissue damage in equine leptospirosis-associated recurrent uveitis.