Impact of Inflammation on Ocular Immune Privilege

Abstract

The immune-privileged status of the anterior chamber of the eye is altered in experimentally induced intraocular inflammation and in the pigment dispersion syndrome of DBA/2J mice. However, the eye has developed multiple mechanisms to maintain ocular immune privilege even in the presence of intraocular inflammation.

Equine immune‐mediated keratopathies

“…Following chronic inflammation of the cornea from any source, there may be a general loss of immune tolerance, and in this environment upregulated and activated antigen presenting cells can effectively present antigen to the adaptive immune system (Mo et al 2007). In the immunologically reactive cornea, cross‐reaction between infectious agents and self‐antigens can potentially proceed to autoimmune disease.…”

Equine immune‐mediated keratopathies

“…During chronic inflammation of the cornea from any source, there may be a general loss of immune tolerance, and in this environment upregulated and activated antigen presenting cells can effectively present antigen to the adaptive immune system 14 . In this immunologically reactive corneal microenvironment, cross‐reaction between infectious agents and self‐antigens can proceed to autoimmune disease.…”

Brucellar uveitis: intraocular fluids and biopsy studies

“…4,[19][20][21][22] The eye is one of the organs that has an immune privilege, [23][24][25][26] which consists of a series of physiological mechanisms by which immunological processes are excluded or restricted. 27 Inflammation can cause irreparable damage to the visual axis, 28,29 causing blindness in some immunemediated infectious diseases, 30 such as herpes simplex, 31 Onchocerca volvulus, 32 and brucellosis. 1 Humoral response studies on infectious diseases of the eye have focused on Toxoplasma gondii and herpes virus.…”