Clinical and immunohistochemical correlation of herpetic keratitis with the expression of HLA-DR antigen.
The corneal buttons after corneal graft of 22 patients with herpetic keratitis were studied (16 male, 6 female; 7-87 years of age). Ten still had active inflammation, while 12 had stabilized by the time of the study. Different degrees of neovascularization were observed in 19 cases. HLA-DR antigen was detected in the corneal epithelium in 7 of 22 cases (32%), in the corneal stroma in 17 of 22 cases (77%), and in the endothelium in 9 cases (41%) by using the immunohistochemical technique. The expression of HLA-DR antigen was more common and more marked in active herpetic keratitis (90%) and in neovascularized corneas (84%). The frequency and density of HLA-DR expression in perforating corneal ulcers were no higher than in other cases, but anterior synechia was accompanied by strong expression of HLA-DR antigen in the corneas. The expression of HLA-DR antigen was not only detected in the peripheral, but also in the central area of the specimens. The cells expressing HLA-DR antigen in corneas were mainly corneal cells. The results showed a close relationship between HSV-keratitis and the expression of HLA-DR antigen, which may be induced during the clinical course of the disease. The expression of HLA-DR might be one of the factors in the recurrent onset of the disease and a significant sign of the prognosis of corneal transplantation for these patients.
Tang
S
S
University Eye Hospital, Munich, Germany.
Scheiffarth
O F
OF
Stefani
F H
FH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002648:Child; D003315:Cornea / Q000276:immunology; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens