Immunoglobulin G, complement factor C3 and lymphocytes in proliferative intraocular disorders

Abstract

This study examines a possible immunological contribution to the development of proliferative intraocular disorders (PID) with traction retinal detachment. We analysed 24 periretinal membranes and 35 vitreous aspirates from patients with idiopathic proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), traumatic PVR, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Lymphocytes and complement factor C3 deposits could not be detected in any of the membrane specimens. IgG was present in all but one of the PVR membranes but in less than half of the PDR specimens and there to a lesser extent. The IgG immunoreactivity was not collocalized with macrophages but instead located to the extracellular matrix. The intravitreal levels of IgG (ELISA) and protein were elevated in PID but the range of these biochemical changes was so wide that there were no significant differences of the IgG levels between the single types of PID. Using electrophoresis and Western blotting, C3 was detected in normal and pathologic vitreous but smaller C3 fragments indicative of C3 breakdown were only found in PID.

Bacterial Growth in Human Vitreous Humor

“…Significantly higher levels of these anaphylatoxines were found in eyes with vitritis (Mondino, Sidikaro and Sumner, 1988 ;Giese et al, 1994), which may represent a spillover from an inflammation within the retinal or choroideal tissues. High levels of some complement factors have also been detected in vitreous of eyes with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (Grisanti et al, 1991) as well as IgG and lymphozytes in PVR membranes (Weller et al, 1990 ;Tang et al, 1992 ;Giese et al, 1994). In all these diseases a breakdown of the blood retinal barrier can be observed, leading to an entrance of immuno-competent substances into the vitreous gel.…”

“…The protein rate (0n1-0n6 g l −" ) in vitreous is very low, due to the impermeability of the blood retinal barrier to higher molecular substances (Scott, 1992). Recent research found physiologic, non inflamed vitreous to possess immunologic competent substances like IgG, complement factor C3 and lysozymal enzymes (Stainer et al, 1976 ;Weller et al, 1990 ;Grisanti et al, 1991).…”

The upregulation of zinc finger protein 670 and prostaglandin D2 synthase in proliferative vitreoretinopathy

“…Human RPE cells express MHC (major histocompatibility complex) proteins and cell surface adhesion molecules, which promote antigen-specific immunologic responses [40]. Increased IgG expression in the vitreous and epiretinal membrane of PVR has been reported [41][42][43]. In this study, the heavy and light chains of IgG were higher in the PVR group, and indicated that the immune response might play a role in PVR development.…”