Cytokine production and mRNA expression by conjunctival T-cell lines in chronic allergic eye disease

• Published in: Clinical and experimental allergy 1999-09, Vol.29 (9), p.1214-1222
• Main Authors: CALDER, V. L, JOLLY, G, HINGORANI, M, ADAMSON, P, LEONARDI, A, SECCHI, A. G, BUCKLEY, R. J, LIGHTMAN, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; atopic keratoconjunctivitis; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Cell Culture Techniques - methods; Cell Line; Chronic Disease; Clone Cells; Conjunctiva - surgery; Conjunctivitis, Allergic - immunology; cytokines; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Diseases of cornea, anterior segment and sclera; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; giant papillary conjunctivitis; giant papillary conjunctivitis, T cells; Humans; Immunophenotyping; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Ophthalmology; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; T cells; T-Lymphocytes - cytology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; vernal keratoconjunctivitis
• ISSN: 0954-7894; 1365-2222
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.1999.00585.x

Background Activated CD4+ T cells, mast cells and eosinophils are the main cytokine‐producing cell‐types infiltrating the conjunctiva during chronic allergic eye diseases. Interactions between these cells are thought to play an important immunopathogenic role in these disorders (giant papillary conjunctivitis; vernal keratoconjunctivitis; atopic keratoconjunctivitis). Objective The objective was to compare the cytokine profiles of conjunctival T‐cell lines from patients with different forms of chronic allergic eye disease. Methods T cells were isolated from conjunctival biopsies and non‐specifically expanded into lines. The lines were immunophenotyped by flow cytometry. Cytokine production was quantified by immunoassays and more sensitive molecular techniques were used to investigate cytokine mRNA expression to identify the presence of interleukin (IL) ‐2, IL‐4 and interferon (IFN) ‐γ transcripts. Results Following four to six rounds of stimulation, the conjunctival T‐cell populations were CD3+ (> 93%), with variable levels of CD4 and CD8 expression. All were HLA‐DR+ (> 80%) with some HLA‐DQ expression. Conjunctival T‐cell lines from atopic keratoconjunctivitis produced selective increases in IFN‐γ, IL‐10 and IL‐13 (P