Distinct Populations of Dendritic Cells in the Normal Human Donor Corneal Epithelium

Abstract

These findings demonstrate that normal human corneal epithelium contains at least three DC phenotypes, with HLA-DR+ myeloid lineage CD11c+CD16- DCs as the main population plus a small number of CD11c+CD16+ DCs and CD11c+CD1c+ DCs. These cells can be discriminated from bone marrow-derived cells in the human corneal stroma.

Cytokine Expression in Keratoconus and its Corneal Microenvironment: A Systematic Review

“…The normal human cornea has resident immune cells, including CD11c+ dendritic cells and CD207+ Langerhans cells and also CD68+ macrophages. [120][121][122] The contribution of these resident immune cells and the expression of cytokines by these cells in KC is currently unclear. Regardless, KC corneas show an elevated expression of HLA class II molecules.…”

Dendritic Cell–Epithelium Interplay Is a Determinant Factor for Corneal Epithelial Wound Repair

“…First, what are the sources of DCs in the healing cornea? The stroma, which also contains DCs, is an unlikely source because early studies 43,44 revealed that epithelial DCs migrate from the peripheral cornea but not from the stroma. In our wound model, the epithelium of the peripheral cornea, which has a relatively high density of DCs, remains and is a likely source for DCs migrating into the wound bed, although circulating DCs, through limbal vessels infiltrating into the injured cornea, cannot be excluded.…”

S100A8 and S100A9 proteins are expressed by human corneal stromal dendritic cells

“…These cells are responsible for regenerating the corneal stroma under steady state,3 and following pathological insults, they regulate inflammation through their immunosuppressive properties 3. Dendritic cells (DCs) are also resident to the cornea;4 5 these ‘professional’ antigen-presenting cells tend to congregate within the limbal stroma but are also found within the corneal epithelium6 and play a pivotal role in immune surveillance. DCs located within the limbus are strategically placed within a region prone to infection, inflammation and tumourigenesis.…”