Table 1. Ocular surface autoimmune diseases.
Ocular surface autoimmune disease | Target tissue | Immunopathological features |
---|---|---|
Localized disease | ||
Dry Eye | Ocular surface epithelium | Increased proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL- 1β, TNF-α, IL-17, IFN-γ); CD4+ T-cell infiltration within the conjunctiva; goblet cell loss; squamous metaplasia |
Mooren's ulcerative keratitis | Corneal and conjunctival epithelium, Sclera | Infiltration of neutrophils, plasma cells, lymphocytes, and eosinophils |
Systemic autoimmunity | ||
Sjogren's syndrome | Primary: lacrimal gland, ocular surface goblet cells | CD4+ T-cell and B-cell infiltration, autoantibodies; goblet cell loss; squamous metaplasia |
Secondary: similar features associated with example rheumatoid arthritis | ||
Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid | Basement membrane of epithelium | Autoantibody and complement deposition in basement membrane of the conjunctiva; macrophages and B cells in the stroma; fibrosis and scarring |
Stevens–Johnson syndrome | Epithelium: mucosa and skin | T-cell infiltration (CD4+, CD8+), NK cells; epithelial cell apoptosis; fibrosis; scarring; opacification of the cornea |
Systemic autoimmunity following allograft | ||
Graft vs. host disease | Skin, mucous membranes, eye (e.g., conjunctiva, lacrimal gland) | T-cell infiltration; ocular surface manifestations include Dry Eye, KCS, pseudomembranous conjunctivitis, conjunctival fibrosis, lacrimal, and meibomian gland disease, corneal epithelial sloughing |
Abbreviations: IFN, interferon; IL, interleukin; KCS, keratoconjunctivitis sicca; TNF, tumor necrosis factor.