Corneal stromal cells selectively inhibit the production of certain anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Recent data suggest that the cornea not only represents a passive barrier protecting the eye but that the cells of individual corneal layers contribute to the regulation of immune responses in the anterior segment of the eye. On the one hand, these regulatory mechanisms have to ensure immune privilege to protect the eye against self-damaging immune reactions while, on the other hand, the eye has to be protected against harmful pathogens and other invaders from the external environment. A factor produced by corneal stromal cells that selectively inhibits secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines by activated T cells has been described recently. The author suggests that this is one of the mechanisms by which the cornea contributes to the immune protection against harmful invaders of immune privilege in the eye.
Holán
Vladimír
V
Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 37 Prague 6, Czech Republic. holan@img.cas.cz