gms | German Medical Science

102. Jahrestagung der DOG

Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft e. V.

23. bis 26.09.2004, Berlin

Indoleamine-2,3-Dioxygenase activity in the cornea

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author S. C. Beutelspacher - University Eye Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg
  • J. Tsang - Department of Immunology, Imperial College London, London/UK
  • R. Pillai - Department of Immunology, Imperial College London, London/UK
  • M. O. McClure - Department of GU Medicine, Imperial College London, London/UK
  • A. J. T. George - Department of Immunology, Imperial College London, London/UK
  • D. F. P. Larkin - Moorfields Eye Hospital, London/UK

Evidenzbasierte Medizin - Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. 102. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft. Berlin, 23.-26.09.2004. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2004. Doc04dogDO.08.01

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dog2004/04dog068.shtml

Published: September 22, 2004

© 2004 Beutelspacher et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

Text

Objective

Indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an IFNγ-controlled intracellular enzyme present in dendritic cells and macrophages, is a modulator of T-cell response. By reducing local concentrations of tryptophan and producing L-Kynurenine it can render activated T-cells apoptotic. There is no information on IDO activity in the corneal immune and its possible involvement in corneal inflammation.

Methods

We examined for IDO mRNA and protein in (a) a murine corneal endothelial cell line (MCE), (b) primary corneal endothelial cells and (c) full-thickness cornea. The function of IDO was assessed by detecting its metabolites and in a T-cell proliferation assay.

Results

IDO was detected in (a-c) and was found to be competent to reduce tryptophan in vitro. Competitive inhibition of IDO significantly increased T-cell proliferation in vitro.

Conclusions

IDO is a possible modulator of T-cell response in the cornea and anterior chamber in vivo. This may have implications in intervention strategies to prevent of corneal inflammatory disorders including allograft rejection.