Expression of chemokines and gelatinase B in sympathetic ophthalmia.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the expression of gelatinase B (matrix metalloproteinase-9) and the chemokines monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (CCL2/MCP-1) and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (CXCL12/SDF-1) in sympathetic ophthalmia (SO).


METHODS
Five enucleated exciting eyes with a clinical diagnosis and typical histopathological findings of SO were studied by immunohistochemical techniques using a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against gelatinase B, MCP-1, and SDF-1. In addition, a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies was used to characterize the composition of the inflammatory infiltrate.


RESULTS
In all cases, the extensive uveal inflammatory infiltrate was organized as a diffuse infiltrate and as large granulomas consisting of epithelioid cells and multinucleated giant cells. CD20(+) B lymphocytes predominated in the diffuse infiltrate and CD3(+) T lymphocytes were few. The monocyte/macrophage marker CD68 was expressed in scattered inflammatory mononuclear cells and within granulomas and Dalen-Fuchs nodules. Most of the inflammatory cells were HLA-DR(+). Immunoreactivity for gelatinase B, MCP-1, and SDF-1 was observed in cells within granulomas and in scattered epithelioid cells. Immunoreactivity for MCP-1 was noted in retinal pigment epithelial cells. Endothelial cells of choriocapillaries showed weak immunoreactivity for SDF-1.


CONCLUSIONS
Gelatinase B, MCP-1, and SDF-1 might have a pathogenic role in the recruitment of leucocytes into the eye in SO.
Abu El-Asrar
A M
AM
Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. abuasrar@ksu.edu.sa
Struyf
S
S
Van den Broeck
C
C
Van Damme
J
J
Opdenakker
G
G
Geboes
K
K
Kestelyn
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000378:metabolism; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006099:Granuloma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009879:Ophthalmia, Sympathetic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
C515255:CXCL12 protein, human; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D018925:Chemokines; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9