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Laboratory science
Basophils in the giant papillae of chronic allergic keratoconjunctivitis
  1. A Matsuda1,2,
  2. N Ebihara1,
  3. N Yokoi2,
  4. Y Okayama3,
  5. Y Watanabe1,
  6. S Kawasaki2,
  7. H Tanioka2,
  8. A F Walls4,
  9. J Hamuro2,
  10. S Kinoshita2,
  11. A Murakami1
  1. 1Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  2. 2Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
  3. 3Division of Molecular Cell Immunology and Allergology, Advanced Medical Research Center, Nihon University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  4. 4Immunopharmacology Group, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr A Matsuda, Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8431, Japan; akimatsu{at}juntendo.ac.jp

Abstract

Aims The essential role of basophils as an initiator of chronic allergic reaction has been elucidated in mouse models. The aim of this present study was to analyse the in situ immunolocalisation of basophils and other relevant inflammatory cells in chronic allergic keratoconjunctivitis.

Methods Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis was carried out to examine the existence of basophils in the giant papillae obtained from atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) and vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) patients. Cryostat sections of giant papillae were immunostained with basophil-specific antibody BB-1, and with anti-CD4, anti-CD8, anti-CD20, anti-major basic protein (MBP), anti-IgE and anti-FcɛRI-β antibodies.

Results TEM analysis confirmed the existence of basophils in the giant papillae. Small clusters of basophils were observed in the substantia propria of giant papillae, especially at the vicinity of vascular endothelium and subepithelial regions. BB-1-positive basophil clusters were surrounded by T cells, B cells, IgE-positive cells and MBP-positive eosinophils. No BB-1-positive basophils were observed in the control conjunctivae.

Conclusion Basophils may infiltrate from either vascular endothelium into the giant papillae. The existence of basophils at the centre of inflammatory cells suggests the role of basophils as an initiator of chronic allergic conjunctivitis.

  • Conjunctiva
  • inflammation; immunology
  • ocular surface

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo.2009.165316

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    Footnotes

    • Funding This study was supported by Grants-in-Aid from MEXT Japan (No. 19659454 to SK, and No. 18604009 and 21592239 to AM).

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Ethics approval This study was conducted with the approval of the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan, and the study was conducted in accordance with the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.

    • Patient consent Obtained.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.