The cell density and morphology of cHCECs on AM were similar to those of normal corneas, and cHCECs on AM were functional in vivo. These results indicate that AM maintains HCEC morphology and function and could serve as a carrier for cHCEC transplantation.

Cultures of oral epithelial cells can be generated to confluence on AM expanded ex vivo from biopsy-derived oral mucosal tissue. Autologous transplantation was performed with these cultivated oral epithelial cells onto the ocular surfaces of keratectomized rabbit eyes. Autologous transplantation of cultivated oral epithelium is a feasible method for ocular surface reconstruction. The long-term outcome of such transplantation is not yet clear, and its feasibility in clinical use should be evaluated further.

SUMMARY The combination of allograft limbal transplantation (ALT) and amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) has been applied in the treatment of severe ocular surface diseases. The beneficial effect of this combination has been thought to result from possible immunosuppressive ability of amniotic membrane (AM). However, the mechanisms of any such ability remain unknown. In this study, we investigated whether human AM has the ability to suppress allo‐reactive T cell responses in vitro. For mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), lymphocytes isolated from lymph nodes of C57BL/6 mice (Mls1b, Vβ6+) were cultured with irradiated splenocytes from DBA/2 mice (Mls1a, Vβ6−) with or without human AM. For carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) experiments, responder lymph node cells were labelled with a stable intracellular fluorescent dye and cultured with irradiated stimulator cells. The ratio of responder Vβ6+ T cells was then determined by FACS analysis, and the division profiles of responder Vβ6+ T cells were analysed by CFSE content. Furthermore, Th1 and Th2 cytokine synthesis by allo‐reactive T cells in MLR culture supernatants was determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Addition of AM to the MLR culture resulted in the significant inhibition of thymidine incorporation compared with control culture lacking AM. The population of responder CD4+Vβ6+ T cells was significantly reduced in the AM‐treated culture in comparison to control. CFSE analysis revealed less division and lower proliferation of responder CD4+Vβ6+ T cells in cultures with AM than without. In addition, allo‐rective T cell synthesis of both Th1 (IL‐2 and IFNγ) and Th2 (IL‐6 and IL‐10) type cytokine was significantly decreased in the presence of AM. These results indicate that human AM has the ability to suppress allo‐reactive T cells in vitro. This inhibitory effect likely contributes to the success of the ALT‐AMT combination.

Factors associated with ocular MRS colonization were long-term use of antibiotics and/or steroids, and hospitalization. Patients who had undergone keratoplasty or who had Stevens-Johnson syndrome were at increased risk of MRS keratitis. Superficial stromal infiltrations, minimal melting, and minimal stromal scarring are characteristic of MRS keratitis. Therapy for MRS keratitis is summarized. Ofloxacin, VCM, and ABK are effective in the treatment of MRS keratitis. Vancomycin eye ointment is effective as the final choice in serious cases.

Summary Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is known for its capacity to induce CD11c+ myeloid dendritic cells to promote T helper type 2 (Th2)-skewed inflammatory responses. Although increased expression of TSLP was reported in the lesional skin of limited numbers of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), the relationships between the degree of TSLP expression in the skin and the severity of AD, epidermal barrier function and eruption type remain to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between the degree of TSLP expression in the skin and the severity of AD, eruption type and epidermal barrier function using a non-invasive method in a sizeable group of the patients. Stratum corneum tissue was obtained from AD patients by tape stripping, and the stratum corneum TSLP (scTSLP) expression level was evaluated using a TSLP-specific antibody followed by image analysis. The correlations between the scTSLP intensity and the severity scoring of AD (SCORAD) index and epidermal barrier function, such as stratum corneum hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL), were analysed. The changes in the scTSLP level induced by the application of moisturizer were also examined. The scTSLP expression level was increased in AD patients compared with healthy subjects and was correlated with SCORAD, especially with the dry skin score, and stratum corneum hydration. Moisturizer application resulted in reduced scTSLP levels. The scTSLP level can be used as a biomarker of AD severity and particularly epidermal barrier status.