Effect of interferon-alpha on MHC expression and influx of inflammatory cells on the rat eye.
Interferon-alpha can be used as additional treatment of herpes keratitis. However, several studies have demonstrated that interferon-alpha can induce immunological changes in several tissues, and if used in a patient with a corneal transplantation, those changes might induce rejection of the corneal transplant. In order to determine the immunological changes in corneal tissue, we examined the effect of local treatment with interferon-alpha on MHC Class I and II expression, and inflammatory cell influx in the rat eye, and compared this with the changes induced by intrastromal sutures. These changes were evaluated by immunohistology for MHC Class I and II and several immunologically active cells. Intrastromal sutures induced an influx of lymphocytes and macrophages and induction and/or upregulation of MHC Class I and II. Local treatment with interferon-alpha did not have any of these effects. We conclude that topical use of interferon-alpha is not likely to induce rejection of a corneal graft.
van Klink
E
E
Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Hospital, The Netherlands.
Jager
M J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000502:physiology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011920:Rats, Inbred WF; D013537:Sutures; D015854:Up-Regulation
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions