title: T cell-related costimulatory molecules in the conjunctiva of patients with severe allergic conjunctivitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We showed previously that costimulatory molecules such as OX40 and 4-1BB participate in the development of murine allergic conjunctivitis (AC). We investigated whether these molecules are expressed in the conjunctiva of patients with severe AC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Giant papillae were collected from 4 patients with severe AC. As a control, bulbar conjunctivas from 4 normal volunteers were used. Frozen sections of the conjunctivas were stained with anti-CD4, anti-CD8, anti-OX40, anti-4-1BB, or control antibodies (Abs) and then incubated with the biotinylated secondary Ab. Alternatively, staining was performed with a biotinylated anti inducible costimulator (ICOS) Ab. After using an avidin-biotin complex kit, the staining levels were graded from 0 to 3. For immunofluorescence analysis, conjunctival sections were stained with primary Abs that had been fluorescently labeled.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The conjunctival stroma of all 4 patients with severe AC were infiltrated with CD4+ and CD8+ cells, whereas only 1 control sample contained stromal CD4+ and CD8+ cells. Conjunctivas from patients but none of the control conjunctivas expressed OX40, 4-1BB, and ICOS. The expression levels of these molecules were significantly higher in patients than the control volunteers. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that the OX40 and 4-1BB, but not the ICOS, molecules were expressed by the infiltrating CD4+ and/or CD8+ cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Together with the data in murine AC, OX40 and 4-1BB are expressed in the conjunctiva of patients with severe AC but not in the control conjunctivas, which suggests that OX40 and 4-1BB participate, at least in part, in the development of severe AC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku-city, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Tamaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sumi
authors.forename: Waka
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ebihara
authors.forename: Atsuki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fukushima
mesh_terms: D053330:4-1BB Ligand / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism*; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D060889:Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053278:OX40 Ligand / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053330:4-1BB Ligand; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; C556692:ICOS protein, human; D060889:Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein; D053278:OX40 Ligand; C089251:TNFSF4 protein, human