British Journal of Ophthalmology
Author:
Keywords:
Cells, Cultured, Cornea, Endothelium, Corneal, Epithelium, HLA-DR Antigens, Humans, Interferon-gamma, Recombinant, Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Ophthalmology, Interferon-gamma, Recombinant Proteins, 1103 Clinical Sciences, 1113 Opthalmology and Optometry, 1117 Public Health and Health Services, Ophthalmology & Optometry, 3202 Clinical sciences, 3212 Ophthalmology and optometry
Abstract:
The effect of interferon-gamma on the expression in situ of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) products in human corneas was studied in vitro. Incubation for four days with 5 or 50 mg/l of Escherichia coli-derived recombinant human interferon-gamma resulted in the appearance de novo of MHC class II or HLA-DR antigens on variable numbers of corneal epithelial cells as well as on corneal endothelium, whereas it had no effect on the expression of MHC class I or HLA-ABC antigens. These results may help to explain the mechanism underlying the expression of HLA-DR antigens on corneal and limbal epithelium in various inflammatory eye diseases.