Work

Severity of Sjögren’s Syndrome Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca Increases with Increased Percentage of Conjunctival Antigen-Presenting Cells

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: This study investigated the relationship between clinical severity and percentage of conjunctival antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in Sjögren’s syndrome (SS)-associated keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). KCS clinical severity was based on symptom severity, tear volume, tear break-up time, and ocular surface dye staining. Conjunctival goblet cell density (GCD) was measured in periodic acid Schiff (PAS)-stained membranes. Conjunctival cells obtained by impression cytology were used for flow cytometry to measure percentages of CD45+HLA-DR+ APCs and mature CD11c+CD86+ dendritic cells (DCs). Compared to normal conjunctiva, the percentages of HLA-DR+ and CD11c+CD86+ cells were higher in the conjunctiva of the KCS group (p < 0.05). The percentage of CD45+HLA-DR+ cells positively correlated with clinical severity (r = 0.71, p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with GCD (r = −0.61, p < 0.05). Clinical severity also negatively correlated with GCD (r = −0.54, p < 0.05). These findings indicate that a higher percentage of APCs and mature DCs in the conjunctiva is associated with more severe KCS in SS. These APCs may contribute to the generation of the pathogenic Th1 cells that cause goblet cell loss in KCS.

Source: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/ijms19092760

Authors: Stephen C. Pflugfelder, Fang Bian, Koray Gumus, William Farley, Michael E. Stern, Cintia S. De Paiva

Institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, Erciyes University

Language: English

Topic: Ocular Surface and Contact Lens

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499