M cells are involved in pathogenesis of human contact lens-associated giant papillary conjunctivitis

Abstract

Introduction:The objective was to study the pathogenesis of contact lens-associated giant papillary conjunctivitis (CL-GPC). Materials and Methods: Twenty-one biopsies of conjunctival giant papillae were obtained from soft contact lens wearers. The tissues were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. Sections of 5 µm thickness were used for studies of histology and immunohistochemistry of pan-B and pan-T cell distributions. Results: Conjunctival epitheliums on the top of conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue typically lacked goblet cells. Lymphocytes from underlying lymphoid follicle were pressed into intra-epithelial "pockets" formed through epithelial invagination. Under the follicle-associated epithelium, pan-B cells were mostly gathered in the central folliclar area and intraepithelial pockets, while CD3-positive T cells were predominantly distributed in parafolliclar region, but only a few in the intraepithelial pockets. Conclusions: Membranous epithelial cells (M cells) play a key role in the pathogenesis of CL-GPC for the binding and translocation of antigen and pathogen.

An eye on the dog as the scientist's best friend for translational research in ophthalmology: Focus on the ocular surface

“…The presence of lymphoid follicles was confirmed in the conjunctiva of most mammals studied by Chodosh and colleagues—including humans, dogs, rabbits—with the exception of mice and rats, 49 although a later report detected lymphoid tissue in the nictitating membrane of BALB/c mice 50 . At an ultrastructural level, specialized M cells are present in the epithelium overlying the conjunctival follicles in dogs 103 and rabbits, 79 similar to humans 86 …”

“…50 At an ultrastructural level, specialized M cells are present in the epithelium overlying the conjunctival follicles in dogs 103 and rabbits, 79 similar to humans. 86…”

Conjunctiva-Associated Lymphoid Tissue – Current Knowledge, Animal Models and Experimental Prospects

“…By investigating conjunctival biopsies from patients, other authors indicated that M cells are present in the conjunctival epithelium and involved in the pathogenesis of contactlens-associated giant papillary conjunctivitis. However, unclarity remains concerning the excised tissue, and likewise no morphological evidence was presented in this study [7] . More detailed investigations have to be done to investigate whether M cells exist in the FAE of the human conjunctiva and to further differentiate the cellular composition of CALT (e.g.…”

Changes in Corneal Biometry and the Associated Histology in Rhesus Monkeys Wearing Orthokeratology Contact Lenses

“…The cornea was routinely processed for light and electron microscopy 25 after being removed from the eyeball. Briefly, the cornea for light microscopy was fixed with 10% formaldehyde, dehydrated in graded concentrations of ethanol, treated in xylene, infiltrated in paraffin, and embedded in paraffin.…”