Filtration and local synthesis of lacrimal proteins in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
In AIDS the onset of the ocular dry syndrome, characterized by lacrimal hyposecretion and deterioration of the corneal and conjunctival epithelium, generally accompanies the clinical aggravation of immunodepression. The study of serum and lacrimal proteins contributes to our knowledge of the pathophysiology of this syndrome. The lacrimal clearance of albumin indicates changes in the permeability of the haemato-lacrimal and conjunctival barrier. Lacrimal monomeric IgA and IgG are mainly of plasmatic origin, while polymeric IgA and IgM are synthesized in situ. The concentrations of these analytes thus reflect ocular humoral immune status. They show a strong humoral protein response in patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis. Lacrimal concentrations of lactoferrin and lysozyme were found to be significantly decreased in AIDS patients with ocular dryness, reflecting a decrease in the secretory activity of the lacrimal gland. Moreover, ocular lympho-plasmocyte infiltration was observed in several patients, with an increase in lacrimal beta 2-microglobulin concentrations. These various lacrimal proteins could be good markers of the ocular dry syndrome in AIDS.
Meillet
D
D
Laboratoire de Biochimie, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Hoang
P L
PL
Unanue
F
F
Kapel
N
N
Diemert
M C
MC
Rousselie
F
F
Galli
A
A
Galli
J
J
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010539:Permeability; D012173:Retinitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology
D001798:Blood Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; C042434:tear proteins