Increased dendritic cell density and altered morphology in allergic conjunctivitis

Zahra Tajbakhsh, Blanka Golebiowski, Fiona Stapleton, Ali Alghamdi, Paul E. Gray, Betina Altavilla, Nancy Briggs, Isabelle Jalbert

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Corneal and conjunctival epithelial dendritic cells (DC) have an established role in vernal keratoconjunctivitis, however, their role in more prevalent forms of allergic eye disease remains unclear. This study evaluated corneal and conjunctival epithelial DC density, morphology, and distribution observed using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) in allergic conjunctivitis. Methods: In this prospective, observational study, 66 participants (mean age 36.6 ± 12.0 years, 56% female): 33 with allergic conjunctivitis and 33 controls were recruited. IVCM was performed at the corneal centre, inferior whorl, corneal periphery, corneal limbus, and temporal bulbar conjunctiva. DC were counted and their morphology was assessed as follows: largest cell body size, presence of dendrites, and presence of long and thick dendrites. Mixed model analysis (DC density) and non-parametric tests (DC morphology) were used. Results: DC density was higher in allergic participants at all locations (p ≤ 0.01), (corneal centre median (IQR) 21.9 (8.7–50.9) cells/mm2 vs 13.1 (2.8–22.8) cells/mm2; periphery 37.5 (15.6-67.2) cells/mm2 vs 20 (9.4–32.5) cells/mm2; limbus 75 (60-120) cells/mm2 vs 58.1 (44.4–66.2) cells/mm2; conjunctiva 10 (0–54.4) cells/mm2 vs 0.6 (0–5.6) cells/mm2, but not at the inferior whorl 21.9 (6.2–34.4) cells/mm2 vs 12.5 (1.9–37.5) cells/mm2, p = 0.20. At the corneal centre, allergic participants had larger DC bodies (p = 0.02), a higher proportion of DC with dendrites (p = 0.02) and long dendrites (p = 0.003) compared to controls. Conclusions: Corneal and conjunctival DC density was increased, and morphology altered in allergic conjunctivitis. These findings imply that the ocular surface immune response was upregulated and support an increased antigen-capture capacity of DC in allergic conjunctivitis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2896-2904
Number of pages9
JournalEye (Basingstoke)
Volume37
Issue number14
Early online date6 Feb 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2023
Externally publishedYes

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