Effect of allergic conjunctival inflammation on the allogeneic response to donor cornea.

PURPOSE: Immunologic rejection is the most common cause of corneal allograft rejection. Ipsilateral ocular inflammation has been identified as a predictor of future corneal graft failure. This study investigates the effect of perioperative allergic conjunctivitis on corneal allograft survival.

METHODS: C57BL6 donor corneas were transplanted into naive A/J mice, A/J mice sensitized to short ragweed (SRW) pollen by intraperitoneal injection and then challenged with topical SRW to induce allergic conjunctivitis (Sens(+)Chall(+)), and A/J mice sensitized to SRW and challenged with topical PBS (Sens(+)Chall(-)). Syngeneic grafts were also performed in eyes with allergic conjunctivitis. Graft survival and infiltrating cell phenotype in rejected grafts were compared between groups.

RESULTS: Mice with allergic conjunctivitis (Sens(+)Chall(+)) rejected corneal allografts significantly more quickly than naive mice. Syngeneic grafts in allergic eyes survived indefinitely. The rate of rejection in Sens(+)Chall(-) mice was similar to that in naive mice. There were no significant differences, between groups, in the numbers of infiltrating CD4(+) cells, CD8(+) cells, and macrophages at the time of graft rejection. Eosinophils were seldom observed in rejected grafts in naive and Sens(+)Chall(-) mice but were observed consistently in Sens(+)Chall(+) eyes. Eosinophils were also found consistently in the ciliary body of Sens(+)Chall(+) eyes at the time of graft rejection.

CONCLUSIONS: Active allergic conjunctivitis at the time of transplantation accelerates corneal allograft rejection. Local conjunctival inflammation is an important factor in accelerating rejection.