[An experimental study of immune mediating action of T-lymphocyte subsets on recurrent herpetic stromal keratitis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of T-lymphocyte subsets in the recurrent herpetic stromal keratitis (SK).


METHODS
In a recurrent SK NIH mouse model, rat monoclonal antibodies were used to selectively deplete in vivo the CD(+)(4) and CD(+)(8) T-lymphocytes in mice, and the effects of the subsets on recurrent herpetic SK were evaluated.


RESULTS
As measured by flow cytometry, in the mice treated with GK1.5, > 90% of CD(+)(4) T cells were depleted; and in the mice treated with H-35, > 95% of CD(+)(8) T cells were depleted. Depletion of CD(+)(4) T cells could halt the recurrence of SK, reduce the severity of recurrent SK and impair the delayed type hypersensitivity. In contrast, depletion of CD(+)(8) T cells had no effect on the outcome of the disease. Histopathologic examination of the recurrent SK demonstrated that the stromal inflammation in CD(+)(8) T-cell depleted and control mice was characterized by extensive lymphocyte and polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration, but only occasional lymphocytes were observed in CD(+)(4) T-cell depleted mice.


CONCLUSIONS
The results provide evidence that recurrent herpetic SK represents an immunopathologic process mediated by CD(+)(4) T cells.
Xia
L
L
Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110003, China.
Shu
H
H
Gao
D
D
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D012008:Recurrence