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Cellular events in the normal and inflamed cornea
Koh-Hei Sonoda1, Shintaro Nakao, Takahiro Nakamura
1Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. sonodak@med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Cornea
|October 18, 2005
Summary
Bone marrow-derived cells traffic into the normal cornea, potentially maintaining clarity. In inflammation, neutrophils cause acute opacity, while macrophages drive angiogenesis and chronic changes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Normal cornea is avascular but contains bone marrow (BM)-derived cells.
- Investigating constitutive cellular trafficking and inflammation initiation is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate constitutive cellular trafficking into the naive cornea.
- Investigate how corneal inflammation is initiated by stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Generated BM chimeric mice using eGFP transgenic mice.
- Studied corneas via fluorescent biomicroscopy and flow cytometry.
- Induced inflammation via corneal cauterization or IL-1 beta inoculation.
Main Results:
- GFP+ cells migrated into the cornea post-transplantation.
- Neutrophils and macrophages infiltrated corneas during inflammation.
- Neutrophil depletion reduced corneal opacity; MCP-1 deficiency reduced angiogenesis.
Conclusions:
- BM-derived cells are recruited to the normal cornea, possibly maintaining clarity.
- Neutrophils contribute to acute corneal edema/opacity.
- Macrophages are implicated in corneal angiogenesis and chronic inflammation.