title: [HLA antigenicity of normal and pathological corneas].
abstract: Fresh human corneas and corneal buttons were studied for expression of HLA antigens. Using monoclonal antibodies in an indirect immunofluorescence assay, corneal layers were examined for class I (HLA-A, B, C) and class II (HLA-DR) histocompatibility antigens. Twenty-one human corneas were studied, 6 normal and 15 pathological: 4 buttons of allograft rejection, 9 buttons of pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. In fresh control corneas, HLA-A, B, C antigens were localized on corneal epithelium and on stromal keratocytes but were never found on endothelial cells. HLA-DR antigens were not detected on corneal epithelium, stroma or endothelium but were detected on Langerhans cells within epithelium and anterior stroma. At the corneal limbus, HLA class I-II antigens were expressed on vascular endothelium. HLA antigen distribution was modified in pathological corneas. Antigens HLA-A, B, C were induced on endothelial cells of rejected corneal allografts. Antigens HLA-DR were detected on epithelial cells, cells in the stroma of pseudophakic bullous keratopathy and also on endothelial cells of rejected corneal allografts. These results suggest that induction of class I and II antigen expression by inflammatory factors may occur in vivo. In rejected corneal allografts induction of HLA-DR antigen on corneal layers would intensify the process of rejection. This study and others have demonstrated the ability of modulation of HLA antigen expression on human corneal cells in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Clinique ophtalmologique, CHU Jean-Minjoz, Besançon.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Delbosc
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fellmann
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Piquot
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Royer
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000276:immunology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens
vernacular_title: Antigénicité HLA des cornées humaines normales et pathologiques.