The long-range objective os this grant application is to advance our understanding of mucosal immmunity in the eye. Proposed research focuses upon the response and function of the rat ocular secretory immune system, with emphasis placed upon the impact of aging and nutrition on immunological activity in the eye. Experimental methods include ELISAs. RlAs, ELISPOT assays, immunofluorescence, cell isolation and culture, hybridoma production, flow cytometry and autoradiography.
Specific aims are: 1) To identify the sources of IgA-containing cells in the lacrimal gland; 2) To evaluate the ocular immune response to non-invasive soluble and particulate antigens. These studies involve examining: a) processing of topically applied antigen to the ocular surface; b) various routes of antigenic exposure for eliciting tear IgA and IgG; c) influence of antigen dosage on tear antibody responses; d) impact of parenteral priming or boosting with antigen on tear antibody levels; e) potential for immunological memory in the ocular secretory immune system; and f) comparison of the secretory immune response in the eye to that in other mucosal secretions. 3) To analyze the functional response of the ocular secretory immune system to viral infection. This research includes determining: a) impact of viral invasion in the lacrimal gland on tear IgA, IgG, secretory component (SC) and total protein levels; b) influence of viral infection on the density of Ig-containing cells and lymphoid aggregates in lacrimal tissue and the acinar cell expression of SC and la antigens; c) tear and cellular antibody response to viral infection; d) effect of viral invasion on ocular mucosal responses to non-invasive antigens; e) influence of immunization with live or inactivated virus on subsequent ocular response to viral challenge; and f) functional role of IgA antibodies to viral antigens in ocular defense. 4) To determine the effect of aging and nutrition on the ocular secretory immune system by assessing the a) influence of aging on the ocular secretory immune response to noninvasive and viral antigens; b) effect of severe protein malnutrition on tear levels of IgA, IgG and SC and lacrimal gland content of immunoglobulin-containing cells; and c) impact of protein malnutrition and senescence on the ocular immune response to non-invasive and viral antigens. These studies have health-relatedness for the eye: they address the functional role of the secretory immune system, which serves as the first line of defense to protect the ocular surface against bacterial colonization and viral invasion.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY002882-13
Application #
3257192
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Project Start
1978-12-01
Project End
1993-11-30
Budget Start
1990-12-01
Budget End
1991-11-30
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02114
Wickham, L A; Huang, Z; Lambert, R W et al. (1997) Effect of sialodacryoadenitis virus exposure on acinar epithelial cells from the rat lacrimal gland. Ocul Immunol Inflamm 5:181-95
Huang, Z; Lambert, R W; Wickham, L A et al. (1996) Analysis of cytomegalovirus infection and replication in acinar epithelial cells of the rat lacrimal gland. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 37:1174-86
Wickham, L A; Huang, Z; Lambert, R W et al. (1995) Herpes- and corona-virus infection of rat lacrimal acinar cells. Adv Exp Med Biol 371B:999-1002
Gao, J; Lambert, R W; Wickham, L A et al. (1995) Androgen control of secretory component mRNA levels in the rat lacrimal gland. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 52:239-49
Wickham, L A; Huang, Z; Lambert, R W et al. (1994) Sialodacryoadenitis virus infection of rat lacrimal gland acinar cells. Adv Exp Med Biol 350:193-6
Huang, Z; Lambert, R W; Wickham, L A et al. (1994) Influence of the endocrine environment on herpes virus infection in rat lacrimal gland acinar cells. Adv Exp Med Biol 350:189-92
Sullivan, D A; Vaerman, J P; Soo, C (1993) Influence of severe protein malnutrition on rat lacrimal, salivary and gastrointestinal immune expression during development, adulthood and ageing. Immunology 78:308-17
Sullivan, D A; Hann, L E; Yee, L et al. (1990) Age- and gender-related influence on the lacrimal gland and tears. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 68:188-94
Sullivan, D A; Hann, L E; Soo, C H et al. (1990) Neural-immune interrelationship: effect of optic, sympathetic, temporofacial, or sensory denervation on the secretory immune system of the lacrimal gland. Reg Immunol 3:204-12
Sullivan, D A; Yee, L; Conner, A S et al. (1990) Influence of ocular surface antigen on the postnatal accumulation of immunoglobulin-containing cells in the rat lacrimal gland. Immunology 71:573-80

Showing the most recent 10 out of 27 publications