Retinal pigment epithelial cells phagocytosis of T lymphocytes: possible implication in the immune privilege of the eye

Aim: To investigate the capability of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells to phagocytose T lymphocytes and to further analyse the immunobiological consequences of this phagocytosis. Methods: Human RPE cells pretreated or not by cytochalasin, a phagocytosis inhibitor, were co-cultured with T lymph...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of ophthalmology 2002-12, Vol.86 (12), p.1417-1421
Main Authors: Willermain, F, Caspers-Velu, L, Nowak, B, Stordeur, P, Mosselmans, R, Salmon, I, Velu, T, Bruyns, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actins - analysis
Apoptosis
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Division
Cell growth
Cells, Cultured
Cytochalasins - pharmacology
Cytokines
Epithelial cells
Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision
Flow Cytometry - methods
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gene expression
Humans
immune privilege
Immune system
Immunity, Cellular
Inflammation
interleukin 1
Interleukin-1 - analysis
Laboratory Science
Lymphocytes
Macular degeneration
Microscopy
Microscopy, Electron
Phagocytosis
Phagocytosis - drug effects
Physiological aspects
Pigment Epithelium of Eye - cytology
Pigment Epithelium of Eye - immunology
Pigment Epithelium of Eye - physiology
Retinal pigment epithelium
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Messenger - analysis
T cells
T lymphocytes
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
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Summary:Aim: To investigate the capability of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells to phagocytose T lymphocytes and to further analyse the immunobiological consequences of this phagocytosis. Methods: Human RPE cells pretreated or not by cytochalasin, a phagocytosis inhibitor, were co-cultured with T lymphocytes for different time points. Phagocytosis was investigated by optic microscopy, electron microscopy, and flow cytometry. T cell proliferation was measured by 3H thymidine incorporation. RPE interleukin 1β mRNA expression was quantified by real time PCR. Results: RPE cells phagocytose apoptotic and non-apoptotic T lymphocytes, in a time dependent manner. This is an active process mediated through actin polymerisation, blocked by cytochalasin E treatment. Inhibition of RPE cell phagocytosis capabilities within RPE-T cell co-cultures led to an increase of lectin induced T cell proliferation and an upregulation of interleukin 1β mRNA expression in RPE cells. Conclusions: It is postulated that T lymphocyte phagocytosis by RPE cells might, by decreasing the total number of T lymphocytes, removing apoptotic lymphocytes, and downregulating the expression of IL-1β, participate in vivo in the induction and maintenance of the immune privilege of the eye, preventing the development of intraocular inflammation.
ISSN:0007-1161
1468-2079
DOI:10.1136/bjo.86.12.1417