title: A review of the influence of aqueous humor on immunity.
abstract: Regulation of immunity within the immune-privileged ocular microenvironment is a dynamic interaction of anatomical features, factors, and cells that work toward suppressing the induction inflammation. Immunosuppressive neuropeptides found in aqueous humor are central to this immunoregulation. These neuropeptides are alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, vasoactive intestinal peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and somatostatin. Along with transforming growth factor-beta2, the neuropeptides target specific cells and pathways in innate and adaptive immunity. These aqueous humor factors prevent pathogen-induced inflammation and activation of Th1 cells, while promoting induction of regulatory T cells. Therefore, the ocular microenvironment, through the constitutive production of immunosuppressive factors found in aqueous humor, maintains immune privilege by manipulating regional innate and adaptive immunity away from inflammatory responses.
authors.affiliation: The Schepens Eye Research Institute and the Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D007109:Immunity; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy