Shift in Adaptive Immune Response Types in Dry-Eye Disease

Yihe Chen, Sunil K Chauhan, Reza DanaSchepens Eye Research Institute

Harvard Medical SchoolBoston, MA

The authors have no financial interest in the subject matter of this poster

Background

• Dry eye disease (DED)– An inflammatory autoimmune disorder– T cell involvement in the pathogenesis

Characterization of adaptive immune response during DED course would be relevant to the development of more effective therapies

Purpose

Determine kinetics of generation of adaptive immunity in DED

Methods

[Controlled-environment chamber]

DED induction

2 or 7 days

Conjunctiva

Cervical lymph nodesTissue harvest

PCR FCM

Analysis of immune

response

ResultsIFN-IFN-γγ and IL-17 mRNA levels and IL-17 mRNA levels

Conjunctiva Draining lymph nodes

0

1

2

3

Day 2 Day7

Fo

ld c

ha

ng

e i

n m

RN

A e

xp

res

sio

n

IFN-γ

IL-17

0

1

2

3

Day 2 Day7

Fo

ld c

ha

ng

e i

n m

RN

A e

xp

res

sio

n

IFN-γ

IL-17

NL NL

NL: mRNA level in normal mice; * p < 0.05 compared with normal

* * *

*

Both the conjunctiva and draining lymph nodes of DED mice showed an enhanced expression of IFN-γ mRNA on day 2 while a substantially increased expression of IL-17 mRNA on day 7

ResultsTh1 and Th17 cellsTh1 and Th17 cells

CD4

IL-1

7

Th1/17 cell is defined as IFN-γ+ / IL-17+ CD4+ population; * p < 0.05 compared with normal

Day 2 Day 7

IFN

-γ

Th1

Th17

*

*

•Th1 cells: significantly increased on day 2, and then diminished to the baseline level on day 7

•Th17 cells: no significant change on day 2, but significantly increased on day 7

Conclusion

These findings suggest:

- the adaptive immune response in early DED is characterized by a Th1 phenotype, whereas,

-the progression of DED is characterized by the Th17 response