Immunology: Innate and Adaptive of Eye

Question 1

what is involved in the innate immunity of the eye

Answer 1

blink reflex, physical and chemical properties of eye surface, limit exposure/size

Question 2

describe the physical properties of the innate immunity of the eye

Answer 2

blinking, tears/flushing the eye, mucous layer(anti-adhesive)

Question 3

give some of the chemical properties of tears as part of the innate immunity of the eye

Answer 3

lysozymes, tear lipids(antibacterial), angiogenin(antimicrobial)

Question 4

what immune cells are involved in the innate immunity of the eye

Answer 4

neutrophils, macrophages, conjunctival mast cells

Question 5

what is required for the adaptive immunity of the eye

Answer 5

antigen presenting cells, lymphatic drainage to lymph nodes, variety of effector cells

Question 6

give some examples of antigen presenting cells(APCs) involved in adaptive immunity of the eye

Answer 6

dendritic cells, Langerhans cells, B cells, macrophages

Question 7

what are some of the effector cells are involved in the adaptive immunity of the eye

Answer 7

CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells

Question 8

what is the principal APC in the adaptive immunity of the eye and where is it found

Answer 8

Langerhans cells, abundant at the corneoscleral limbus, less in peripheral and none in central 1/3rd of cornea

Question 9

what is the only part of the eye with lymphatic drainage

Answer 9

the conjunctiva

Question 10

describe the lymphoid cell involvement in the immunity of the conjunctiva

Answer 10

specialised endothelial venules for regulated migration of lymphoid cells

Question 11

what are the different parts of the eye immunity found in the conjunctiva

Answer 11

dendritic cells, mucosa associated lymphoid tissue(MALT), macrophages, Langerhans, Mast cells, commensal bacteria

Question 12

describe the immunity of the cornea and sclera

Answer 12

form tough collagen coat

no lymphoid, lack APCs, no Langerhans, downregulated immune environment

Question 13

describe the lacrimal gland drainage system and how immunity differs to that of the conjunctiva

Answer 13

diffuse lymphoid tissue and follicles in mucosa
more plasma(IgA) and CD8+ T cells than conjunctiva

Question 14

describe the immunity of the vitreous, choroid and retina

Answer 14

downregulated immune environment, blood-ocular barrier, lack of APCs

Question 15

what does it mean if an area of the body has immune privilege

Answer 15

an area able to tolerate introduction of antigens without eliciting an inflammatory response

Question 16

what areas of the body have immune privilege

Answer 16

EYES, brain/CNS(controversial), testes, placenta/foetus

Question 17

describe the different ocular immune privilege mechanisms

Answer 17

blood-tissue barrier and lack of direct lymphatic drainage, immunosuppressive molecules and inhibitory cell surface molecules