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Updated: Jan 10, 2026
Induction of Ocular Surface Inflammation and Collection of Involved Tissues
Published on: August 4, 2022
Microbial influx during early postnatal life fortifies the ocular surface and guards against allergic eye disease in
Yanbo Liu1, Hang Sun2, Shulin Song1
1Xiamen Eye Center and Eye Institute of Xiamen University, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Abstract:
Host-microbiome interplay during development governs the homeostasis of various bodily surfaces, however, postnatal colonization of the microbiome and its impact on the homeostasis of ocular surface is still unclear. Here, the changes of the conjunctival microbiome in C57BL/6 J mice were tracked in 1-week-old neonates through to 8-week-old adult mice. This disclosed that changes in the conjunctival microbiome correlate with age, especially at the 2-week and 3-week time points, which, respectively, are accompanied by eyelid-opening and weaning. Antigen presenting cells were also recruited to the conjunctival epithelium after eyelid-opening, whilst an inhibition of microbial colonization at 2-to-3 weeks of age led to a disruption of mucosal homeostasis and aggravated the development of allergic eye disease. This study improves our understanding of the development of the conjunctival microbiome in mice, and provides an indication that early microbial colonization is required for the establishment of mucosal ocular surface homeostasis, the perturbation of which leads to increased susceptibility to allergic eye disease.
Insights
Early colonization of the conjunctival microbiome is crucial for ocular surface homeostasis. Disrupting this microbial development in mice increases susceptibility to allergic eye disease.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Host-microbiome interactions are vital for bodily surface homeostasis.
- The role of the postnatal microbiome in ocular surface development remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental changes in the conjunctival microbiome in mice.
- To understand the impact of early microbial colonization on ocular surface homeostasis and allergic eye disease.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal tracking of conjunctival microbiome composition in C57BL/6J mice from 1 to 8 weeks of age.
- Monitoring of antigen-presenting cell recruitment post-eyelid opening.
- Intervention study inhibiting microbial colonization during critical developmental windows.
Main Results:
- Conjunctival microbiome composition significantly changes with age, particularly around eyelid-opening (2 weeks) and weaning (3 weeks).
- Eyelid opening triggers antigen-presenting cell recruitment to the conjunctival epithelium.
- Inhibition of microbial colonization during weeks 2-3 disrupted mucosal homeostasis and exacerbated allergic eye disease development.
Conclusions:
- Early-life microbial colonization is essential for establishing ocular surface mucosal homeostasis in mice.
- Perturbations in the early conjunctival microbiome increase susceptibility to allergic eye disease.
