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Immunophenotypic profiles in chalazion and pyogenic granuloma associated with chalazion
Rey Nemoto1, Yoshihiko Usui2, Hiroyuki Komatsu1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
Immunophenotypic analysis of chalazion and pyogenic granuloma reveals a predominant infiltration of T cells, specifically CD4-positive T cells, suggesting their role in the pathology of these ocular lesions.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Chalazion and pyogenic granuloma are common ocular conditions.
- Understanding the cellular infiltrate is crucial for elucidating their pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the immunophenotypic profiles of infiltrating cells in surgically excised chalazion and associated pyogenic granuloma tissues.
- To identify specific immune cell populations involved in the inflammatory process.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 82 surgical specimens (60 chalazion, 22 pyogenic granuloma) from 74 immunocompetent patients.
- Utilized immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry with a panel of immune cell markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, etc.).
Main Results:
- Flow cytometry showed significantly higher proportions of CD3-positive T cells compared to other immune cells.
- CD4-positive T cells were significantly more abundant than CD8-positive T cells in both lesion types.
- Immunohistochemistry confirmed the predominant T cell infiltration and CD4 dominance.
Conclusions:
- Chalazion and pyogenic granuloma share a similar immunophenotypic profile dominated by T cells.
- The elevated presence of CD4-positive T cells is strongly associated with the pathological mechanisms of both chalazion and pyogenic granuloma.
Purpose:
To evaluate immunophenotypic profiles of infiltrating cells in surgically excised tissues of chalazion and pyogenic granuloma associated with chalazion.
Methods:
Eighty-two surgical specimens from 74 consecutive patients newly diagnosed with chalazion or chalazion-associated pyogenic granuloma at Tokyo Medical University Hospital between 2016 and 2022 were studied. Sixty specimens were chalazion lesions and 22 specimens were pyogenic granuloma lesions (from 15 men and 7 women, mean age 36.6 ± 14.4 years). All patients were immunocompetent Asian Japanese adults. Specimens were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Flow cytometry was performed using the following antibodies: CD3, CD4, CD8, CD11b, CD11c, CD16, CD19, CD20, CD23, CD25, CD34, CD44, CD56, CD69, and CD138.
Results:
In flow cytometric analysis, the proportion of cells expressing the T cell marker CD3 was significantly higher compared with other immune cells expressing specific markers (p < 0.0001), and the proportion of CD4-positive T cells was significantly higher than that of CD8-positive T cells (p < 0.0001), in both chalazion and pyogenic granuloma specimens. The chalazion and pyogenic granuloma lesions shared similar immunophenotypic profile characterized by predominant T cell infiltration, and CD4 T cells dominating over CD8 cells. The pattern of expression of CD4 and CD8 in the specimens was confirmed by immunohistochemistry.
Conclusion:
The present study demonstrates immunophenotypic features of chalazion and chalazion-associated pyogenic granuloma. Although various inflammatory cells are involved in the pathology of chalazion and pyogenic granuloma, a significantly higher proportion of CD4-positive T cells may be closely related to the pathological mechanisms of both lesions.
