Figure 4.

DCs from the ocular surface lead to AC in a CCR7-dependent fashion. A: SCJ injection of CCR7^−/− DCs results in impaired onset and progression of AC clinical signs. WT DCs, CCR7^−/− DCs, sham HBSS, or no SCJ injection was administered into mice after adoptive transfer with OVA/Alum-primed T cells. All mice were challenged topically with OVA eye drops once daily for at least 10 days and were scored biomicroscopically 20 minutes post challenge for clinical signs [eg, redness (R), chemosis (Ch), tearing/discharge (T), and lid swelling (LS)]. B: Representative clinical photographs of mice SCJ administered with WT versus CCR7^−/− DCs on day 10 of topical challenge. C: Impaired AC clinical scores conferred by CCR7^−/− DCs are associated with decreased number of conjunctival mast cells and eosinophils. Conjunctivae were collected from AC-induced mice after at least 10 days of once daily OVA topical challenges. Tissue was prepared into single-cell suspensions, and FACS analysis was performed for mast cells (CD45⁺ c-Kit⁺) and eosinophils (CD45⁺ CCR3⁺). Data are derived from n = 4 to 5 hosts per group; figure represents multiple independent experiments.