[The local immune system of ocular surface].
Local immunity on the ocular surface was observed in guinea pigs immunized with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) by determining the activity of a specific antibody in local sites of the conjunctiva by the enzyme-antigen method, which enables a specific antibody to be stained. In addition, immunohistochemical study of the localization of IgA was performed by the enzyme-labelled antibody method. The enzyme-antigen method revealed a number of positive cells in the subconjunctival tissue and the parafollicular area of conjunctival-associated lymphoid tissue. These cells were identified as plasma cells by electron microscopy. The mirror section technique revealed that the cells positive for the enzyme-antigen method were consistent with anti-IgA-positive cells at many sites. Thus the distribution of plasma cells secreting IgA-specific antibody responsible for local immunity on the ocular surface was observed immunohistochemically. The results suggest that immunocytes in the conjunctival-associated lymphoid tissue differentiate and mature into specific antibody-producing plasma cells.
Inada
N
N
Department of Ophthalmology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Japan.
Shoji
J
J
Kasai
H
H
Ishii
Y
Y
Kitano
S
S
D000818:Animals; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000276:immunology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology
D007070:Immunoglobulin A