title: Thrombospondin-1 as a Regulator of Corneal Inflammation and Lymphangiogenesis: Effects on Dry Eye Disease and Corneal Graft Immunology.
abstract: Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a matricellular glycoprotein that belongs to a family of evolutionary highly conserved calcium-binding proteins consisting of 5 members (TSP-1-TSP-5). In the eye, TSP-1 is expressed by several ocular cell types and is also detectable in the aqueous humor and the vitreous body. So far, TSP-1 is one of the major activators of TGFβ, suggesting a strong influence on various important cellular functions and interactions such as differentiation, migration, and wound healing. TSP-1 is also a key endogenous inhibitor of hem- and lymphangiogenesis. Several lines of evidence indicate a crucial role of TSP-1 in maintaining the ocular immune and angiogenic privilege, for example, by regulating T lymphocytes and the tolerance-promoting properties of ocular antigen-presenting cells. This review discusses the role of TSP-1 in dry eye disease and corneal graft rejection through its effects on hem- and lymphangiogenesis, as well as on the underlying immune responses. Recent work will be reviewed showing by which molecular mechanism TSP-1 modulates inflammatory processes during ocular diseases. This opens potential new treatment avenues in inflammatory and (lymph)angiogenic ocular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne , Cologne, Germany .
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schöllhorn
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne , Cologne, Germany .
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne , Cologne, Germany .
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cursiefen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D019700:Thrombospondin 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014181:Transplantation Immunology
chemical_list: D019700:Thrombospondin 1