Host defense against bacterial keratitis

Purpose: To define factors that protect the eye from Staphylococcus aureus keratitis and limit tissue damage once keratitis occurs. Methods: Rabbit tears were analyzed for bactericidal and phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) activities on S. aureus. Inhibition by spermidine of PLA 2 anti-staphylococcal activ...

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Published in:Ocular immunology and inflammation 2003-09, Vol.11 (3), p.171-181
Main Authors: O&CloseCurlyQuote, Callaghan, Richard J., Girgis, Dalia O., Dajcs, Joseph J., Sloop, Gregory D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Arachidonic Acid - metabolism
Corneal Stroma - microbiology
Corneal Ulcer - immunology
Corneal Ulcer - microbiology
Corneal Ulcer - prevention & control
Eye Infections, Bacterial - immunology
Eye Infections, Bacterial - prevention & control
Immunity, Innate - physiology
Immunization
Phospholipases A - metabolism
Rabbits
Spermidine - pharmacology
Staphylococcal Infections - immunology
Staphylococcal Infections - prevention & control
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus - physiology
Tears - enzymology
Type C Phospholipases - administration & dosage
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Summary:Purpose: To define factors that protect the eye from Staphylococcus aureus keratitis and limit tissue damage once keratitis occurs. Methods: Rabbit tears were analyzed for bactericidal and phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) activities on S. aureus. Inhibition by spermidine of PLA 2 anti-staphylococcal activity in tears was tested in vitro and in vivo. Rabbits immunized with heat-inactivated alpha-toxin were challenged with intrastromal injection of S. aureus. Results: Arachidonic acid was cleaved from S. aureus by purified PLA 2 or rabbit tears. Spermidine inhibited these reactions in vitro and facilitated keratitis in vivo. PLA 2 activity decreased with advanced age and shortly following sleep, but increased with keratitis. Antibody to alpha-toxin significantly reduced corneal damage and epithelial cell sloughing during keratitis. Conclusions: PLA 2 is a major host-defense component of rabbit tears. Alpha-toxin is a major mediator of corneal damage, and antibody to alpha-toxin reduces pathologic changes during keratitis.
ISSN:0927-3948
1744-5078
DOI:10.1076/ocii.11.3.171.17351