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C S Foster

Publications and source records attributed to C S Foster.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Eosinophil granule proteins expressed in ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.

BACKGROUND: Blister formation and tissue damage in bullous pemphigoid have been attributed to the release of eosinophil granule proteins--namely, to eosinophil derived cationic protein (ECP) and major basic protein (MBP). In the present investigation these eosinophil granule proteins were studied in the conjunctiva of patients with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP). METHODS: Conjunctival biopsy specimens obtained from patients with subacute (n = 8) or chronic conjunctival disease (n = 13) were analysed histologically and immunohistochemically using antibodies directed against EG1 (stored and secreted ECP), EG2 (secreted ECP), MBP, CD45 (common leucocyte antigen), CD3 (pan T cell marker), and HLA-DR (class II antigen). RESULTS: Subepithelial mononuclear cells, mast cells, and neutrophils were detected in all specimens. The number of mononuclear cells, neutrophils, CD45+ cells, CD3+ cells, and the HLA-DR expression were significantly higher in the subacute than in the chronic disease group. Some eosinophils were found in specimens from five of eight patients with subacute OCP, but in none of the patients with chronic disease. The eosinophil granule proteins (ECP and MBP) were found in the epithelium and substantia propria in patients with subacute conjunctivitis. CONCLUSIONS: Subepithelial cell infiltration in the conjunctiva greatly differs between subacute and chronic ocular cicatricial pemphigoid specimens. The findings suggest that eosinophil granule proteins may participate in tissue damage in acute phase of inflammation in OCP.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

In vivo and in vitro hepatic phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy and electron microscopy in chronic ductopenic rejection of human liver allografts.

BACKGROUND: In vivo hepatic phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) provides non-invasive information about phospholipid metabolism. AIMS: To delineate MRS abnormalities in patients with chronic ductopenic rejection (CDR) and to characterise spectral changes by in vitro MRS and electron microscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixteen liver transplant recipients (four with CDR; 12 with good graft function) and 29 controls (23 healthy volunteers; six patients with biliary duct strictures) were studied with in vivo 31P MRS. Peak area ratios of phosphomonoesters (PME) and phosphodiesters (PDE), relative to nucleotide triphosphates (NTP) were measured. In vitro MRS and electron microscopy were performed on biopsy specimens from five patients with CDR, freeze clamped at retransplantation. Phosphoethanolamine (PE), phosphocholine (PC), glycerophosphorylethanolamine (GPE), and glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC) concentrations were measured. RESULTS: The 12 patients with good graft function displayed no spectral abnormalities in vivo; the four patients with CDR showed significantly elevated PME:NTP (p < 0.01) and PDE:NTP ratios (p < 0.005). Patients with biliary strictures had significant differences in PME:NTP (p < 0.01) from patients with CDR, but not in mean PDE:NTP. In vitro spectra from CDR patients showed elevated PE and PC, mirroring the in vivo changes in PME, but reduced GPE and GPC concentrations were observed, at variance with the in vivo PDE findings. On electron microscopy, there was no proliferation in hepatocyte endoplasmic reticulum. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in PME:NTP reflects altered phospholipid metabolism in patients with CDR, while the increase in PDE:NTP may represent a significant contribution from bile phospholipid.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Costimulatory molecules in ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.

PURPOSE: To examine normal and inflamed conjunctiva from patients with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) for the presence of costimulatory molecule CD28 and its ligands B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86). METHODS: Conjunctival biopsy specimens from 12 patients with OCP and from five healthy persons undergoing cataract surgery were analyzed by light microscopy and immunohistochemical examination with monoclonal antibody probes for CD28, B7-1, and B7-2 molecules and for mononuclear cell subtypes. RESULTS: Epithelium of OCP conjunctiva showed more Langerhans' cells, B7-1-positive (+) cells, and B7-2 expression (ratio of B7-2-positive cells to antigen-presenting cells). In the substantia propria, OCP specimens showed significantly increased numbers of T cells (CD3 +), macrophages (CD68+), CD28+ cells, B7-2+ cells (CD86+), Langerhans' cells (CD1a), and B7-1+ cells (CD80). Most of the B7-2+ cells, macrophages, and Langerhans' cells were located subepithelially. B7-2 expression was significantly higher in OCP conjunctival substantia propria compared with normal conjunctiva. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that the expression of the costimulatory molecule B7-2 is upregulated in conjunctiva of patients with active OCP. This increased subepithelial B7-2 expression may contribute to the sustained immune activation in OCP conjunctiva.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1997

Elevated expression of calcium-binding protein p9Ka is associated with increasing malignant characteristics of rat prostate carcinoma cells.

Northern and Western blotting techniques were used to study expression of the mRNA and corresponding protein product of the S100-related calcium-binding molecule p9Ka in 6 different metastatic cell lines of the Dunning R3327 rat prostate cancer model. In cells with the lowest metastatic capability (G cells), p9Ka mRNA was barely detectable. In 2 weakly metastatic cell lines (AT-1 and AT-2), p9Ka transcript amounts were, respectively, 6.29 +/- 0.74 and 5.55 +/- 1.11 times that detected in the G cells. In 3 highly metastatic cell lines (AT-3, MAT-LyLu and MAT-Lu), the amounts of p9Ka mRNA were, respectively, 12.85 +/- 2.82, 13.06 +/- 1.69 and 11.62 +/- 1.81 times that expressed in the G cells. Western blot analyses detected no p9Ka protein in the G cells. The amounts of p9Ka protein expressed by tumour cells of intermediate metastatic capability (AT-1 and AT-2) were 3.4 +/- 1.3 microg and 3.3 +/- 1.4 microg, respectively, per 1 x 10(6) cells. The amounts of p9Ka protein expressed by the tumour cells of highest metastatic capability (AT-3, MAT-LyLu and MAT-Lu) were 8.3 +/- 1.1 microg, 8.7 +/- 1.6 microg and 9.6 +/- 1.7 microg, respectively, per 1 x 10(6) cells. Our data reveal a direct association between the elevated expression of mRNA and the p9Ka protein amounts and the increased metastatic capability of individual prostatic cancer cell lines. We suggest that calcium-binding protein p9Ka may play an important role in the metastatic behaviour of rat prostate cancer.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Morphological changes during hepatocellular maturity in neonatal rats.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular maturation is characterised by the progressive transition from an architecture in which hepatocyte plates are at least two cells thick to the familiar adult pattern in which liver cell plates are predominantly single-cell in thickness. A similar process also has been noted during compensatory hyperplasia following damage, or destruction to the hepatic parenchyma. The pathological events that underlie these processes remain inadequately explained. A new morphological approach has been developed to study the maturity of rat neonatal livers in order to identify the factors which govern the structured morphogenesis of the liver in greater detail. METHODS: Sections of hepatic tissue obtained from the left lateral and right posterior lobes from neonatal rats were studied at 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 23, and 28 days postpartum. These were mounted, fixed, and stained with haematoxylin and eosin and analysed using a modified point-counting technique. Following validation of the technique, the proportion of single-cell plates to double-cell plates was then calculated at each time point. RESULTS: Liver sections from 8-day neonatal rats had the lowest percentage of single-cell thick plates of 16.9 +/- 4.6% and the lowest standard deviation (mean +/- SD). The hepatic architecture had fully matured by 28 days and was characterised by predominantly single-cell plates (84.6 +/- 4.6%) lining the hepatic sinusoids. During the intervening time, the standard deviations increased significantly, peaking between 18-23 days, and reflected the rapidly changing morphology of the liver during this maturation process of the conversion of double-cell plates to single-cell plates. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the process of hepatocellular maturity in the neonatal Sprague-Dawley rat is reproducibly complete by 28 days and that further studies may now be conducted to determine the anatomical and pathophysiological changes that govern this important transition.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

Primary varicella-zoster keratitis: diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction.

PURPOSE: To report the value of polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of a worsening corneal ulcer. METHODS: A 6-year-old boy underwent an emergent penetrating keratoplasty for a corneal ulcer that continued to worsen despite intensive antibiotic therapy. RESULTS: Examination of the corneal specimen by polymerase chain reaction was positive for varicella-zoster virus but negative for herpes simplex. Based on polymerase chain reaction studies, we diagnosed primary varicella-zoster keratitis with corneal perforation. Electron microscopy showed herpetic virus particles in the cornea. CONCLUSIONS: Polymerase chain reaction analysis of corneal buttons at the time of penetrating keratoplasty may benefit patients with undiagnosed recalcitrant corneal ulcers.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1997

Treatment of uveitis by oral administration of retinal antigens: results of a phase I/II randomized masked trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect and safety of the oral administration of retinal antigens as a treatment of ocular inflammation. METHODS: In a phase I/II randomized masked trial, patients with endogenous uveitis who were dependent on immunosuppressive agents were randomly assigned to receive either retinal S antigen alone (10 patients), retinal S antigen and a mixture of soluble retinal antigens (10 patients), a mixture of soluble retinal antigens alone (10 patients), or placebo (15 patients). An attempt was then made to taper patients completely off their standard immunosuppressive therapy over an 8 week period. The primary study endpoint was time to ocular inflammatory attack. The secondary study endpoint was the ability to taper patients completely off their immunosuppressive or cytotoxic medication within 8 weeks. RESULTS: Time to development of the main study endpoint was not statistically significantly different for any of the four treatment groups. However, the group receiving the purified S antigen alone appeared to be tapered off their immunosuppressive medication more successfully compared with patients given placebo (P = .08), whereas all the other groups appeared to do worse than did those receiving placebo. No toxic effects attributable to any treatment were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This phase I/II study is the first to test the use of orally administered S antigen in the treatment of uveitis. Although not statistically significant, patients given S antigen were more likely to be tapered off their chronically administered systemic immunosuppressive therapy than were the other groups tested.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

A prospective evaluation of alcohol-assisted versus mechanical epithelial removal before photorefractive keratectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to compare alcohol-assisted versus mechanical debridement of the corneal epithelium before photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for low-to-moderate myopia. DESIGN: A prospective study was performed on a group of consecutive patients operated on at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary from February to April 1996 and followed for 6 months. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty patients (eyes) were divided in 2 groups: 40 alcohol and 40 mechanical. INTERVENTION: The patients underwent PRK for myopia (-1.5 to -7.5 diopters) with a Summit Apex excimer laser. The corneal epithelium was removed either with 20% ethanol or with a scalpel blade. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The two groups were compared for epithelial removal time, epithelial defect size at the end of surgery, and rate of re-epithelialization. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), refractive outcome, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and subjective haze were measured at 4 days and at 1, 3, and 6 months. In an additional short-term study, 40 patients (20 alcohol, 20 mechanical) had intraoperative pachymetry performed. RESULTS: Alcohol-assisted de-epithelialization was faster than mechanical debridement (107 [+/-20.6 standard deviation] versus 141 [+/-30.5] seconds [P < 0.0001]) and led to a more circumscribed and reproducible epithelial defect at the end of surgery (87,739 [+/-11,852] versus 103,518 [+/-33,942] square pixels [t test, P = 0.04; f test, P = 0.001]). At 4 days, 95% of the alcohol-treated patients had healed compared with 78% of the mechanically scraped patients (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.04). The alcohol group had a better UCVA at 4 days (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution UCVA 0.36 [+/-0.22] versus 0.51 [+/-0.26]) and at 1 month (0.14 [+/-0.17] versus 0.22 [+/-0.16] [Mann-Whitney U test, P = 0.02 and P = 0.03]) but equalized at 3 months (0.10 [+/-0.14] versus 0.13 [+/-0.16]) and at 6 months (0.11 [+/-0.15] versus 0.14 [+/-0.13] [Mann-Whitney U test, P = 0.23 and P = 0.34]). There was a trend toward less subjective haze in the alcohol-treated patients over the course of the study (area under the curve, 71.9 [+/-35.3] versus 87.9 [+/-33.8] [Mann-Whitney U test, P = 0.07]). The difference from target was equivalent in both groups at 6 months (-0.22 [+/-0.58] diopter in the alcohol group and -0.43 [+/-0.52] diopter in the mechanical group [t test, P = 0.14; f test, P = 0.57]). There were no differences in intraoperative pachymetry, corneal uniformity index as calculated from the corneal topography, and loss of BCVA between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty percent ethanol is a simple, safe, and effective alternative to mechanical scraping before PRK and appears to be associated with a quicker visual rehabilitation.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Posterior capsule opacification after cataract surgery in patients with uveitis.

PURPOSE: To compare the incidence rate of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after phacoemulsification and standard extracapsular cataract extraction (P/ECCE) in eyes with antecedent uveitis with the incidence rate in eyes without any history of intraocular inflammation. DESIGN: Review of records of 108 eyes of 78 patients with uveitis and 122 eyes of 106 patients with no uveitis who underwent P/ECCE. Rates of PCO were compared by the log-rank test of differences in the Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Proportional hazards regression models provided estimates of the relative risks of PCO among uveitic compared to nonuveitic eyes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Performance of neodymium: YAG laser posterior capsulotomy was used as a proxy measure for the main outcome of visually significant PCO. RESULTS: Study patients ranged in age from 6 to 81 years (median, 44.5 years) among those with uveitis and 27 to 96 years (median, 68.5 years) among those without uveitis (P = 0.0001). Crude incidence rates for visually significant PCO were 54% over a mean follow-up of 4.3 years in uveitic cases and 40% over a mean follow-up of 3.9 years among nonuveitic cases (P = 0.02). Estimates of PCO incidence (95% confidence interval) in uveitic eyes derived from the Kaplan-Meier models were 38.5% (range, 28.9%-48.2%) at 1 year and 56% (range, 45.8%-66.3%) at 3 years, and estimates among nonuveitic eyes were 11.5% (range, 6.2%-16.8%) at 1 year and 38.4% (range, 29%-47.8%) at 3 years. These rates of PCO among patients with uveitis and those patients without uveitis differed significantly by the log-rank test (P = 0.004). However, after adjusting for the younger age of patients with uveitis, the rates of PCO were no longer statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: The apparent higher rate of PCO in patients with uveitis is primarily due to their younger age at the time of surgery. A moderately increased independent risk of PCO from uveitis cannot, however, be ruled out by this study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Infectious posterior scleritis caused by Pseudallescheria boydii. Clinicopathologic findings.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to describe an unusual case of infectious posterior scleritis after excision of a pterygium. METHODS: The case history of a patient in whom anterior and posterior scleritis developed after excision of a pterygium is reviewed. Histopathologic findings are presented. RESULTS: Pathologic examination results of a scleral biopsy site and the eye showed extensive involvement of the posterior sclera with fungi that on culture grew Pseudallescheria boydii. The development of posterior scleral thickening and intrascleral abscesses gave the clinical impression of autoimmune posterior scleritis or possible tumor. Ultrasonography and computed tomography scan of the eye and orbit proved particularly helpful in following progression of scleral involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Pseudallescheria boydii is capable of causing an infectious posterior scleritis, which can mimic autoimmune posterior scleritis. The use of systemic immunosuppressive agents contributed to this unusual clinical presentation. Progression of posterior scleritis in the face of apparent adequate immunosuppressive therapy always should suggest the possibility of tumor or infection.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Visual outcomes prognosticators in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis-associated uveitis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to delineate the visual prognosticators in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis-associated uveitis. METHODS: The records of 43 patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis-associated uveitis who were observed for at least 6 months were studied retrospectively. Bivariate and multivariate statistical models were applied to more than 40 parameters to determine the relative odds of visual rehabilitation among patients with each characteristic. RESULTS: Thirty-seven (86%) patients were females and 6 (14%) males. The mean known age of uveitis onset was 13 years, with females having, on average, 4 years earlier onset of disease compared to males (P = 0.04). Ninety-three percent had chronic, 5% had recurrent, and 2% had an acute monophasic disease course. Of the 76 affected eyes, 93% were nongranulomatous and 97% had iridocyclitis. The mean overall duration of uveitis was 146 months, with females suffering from a significantly longer duration of active disease than did males (P < 0.001). Nineteen (44%) patients underwent cataract extraction, and 16 (37%) underwent vitrectomy. Thirty (70%) of the patients experienced visual improvement with their therapy. When controlling for potential confounders, male sex (P = 0.006), shorter duration of uveitis (P = 0.007), older age at disease onset (P = 0.02), and a shorter delay in presentation to a subspecialist (P = 0.02) were associated significantly with visual acuity improvement. Visual acuity at presentation (P = 0.001), use of systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (P = 0.01), older age at disease onset (P = 0.02), absence of glaucomatous neuropathy (P = 0.02), and male sex (P = 0.03) were correlated strongly with a final visual acuity outcome of 20/40 or better. CONCLUSION: Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis-associated uveitis is a serious disease with a guarded visual prognosis. It is hoped that increased awareness of its prognosticators will lead to treatment and referral patterns that have the best chance of minimizing the likelihood of visual impairment in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Scleritis-associated uveitis.

PURPOSE: Anterior uveitis may accompany scleritis. This study was undertaken to analyze the incidence, characteristics, and meaning of uveitis in the course of scleritis. METHODS: Patient characteristics, scleritis type, ocular complications, and specific systemic diseases were evaluated in patients with scleritis-associated uveitis; comparisons were made between patients with scleritis-associated uveitis and patients with scleritis without uveitis. RESULTS: Seventy three (42%) of 172 patients with scleritis had anterior uveitis. Scleritis-associated uveitis ranged from mild to moderate intensity and always was related to the presence of active scleritis. Patients with scleritis-associated uveitis had more necrotizing scleritis (37%, P = 0.0001), decrease in vision (49%, P = 0.0046), peripheral ulcerative keratitis (22%, P = 0.0095), and glaucoma (19%, P = 0.0313) than did patients with scleritis without uveitis. Patients with scleritis-associated uveitis did not have any specific associated systemic disease more often than did patients with scleritis without uveitis. CONCLUSION: Extension of scleral inflammation to the anterior uveal tract is a consequence of a more severe disease with possible ocular complications that may cause progressive visual loss. The occurrence of anterior uveitis in the course of scleritis entails a poor ocular prognosis. The authors believe, therefore, that the anterior uveal tract should be evaluated at every follow-up visit of a patient with scleritis, so that emergence of this important prognostic condition (anterior uveitis) may be detected promptly and systemic therapy instituted appropriately.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Pharmacomanipulation of HSV-1 induced chorioretinitis in mice.

In the von Szily mouse model, intracameral inoculation of herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) results in inflammation of the ipsilateral anterior segment with relative chorioretinal sparing and destructive contralateral chorioretinitis. We studied the effect of the systemic antiviral agent acyclovir (ACV) and anti-HSV-1 antibody therapy in this model. Contralateral chorioretinitis developed in none of the 18 mice receiving ACV from post-inoculation day (pid) 1 (p < 0.0001), in 6 of 10 (60%) mice when treatment was delayed until pid 7 (p = 0.40) and in 14 of 18 (77%) controls. Contralateral disease developed in 8 of 16 (50%) mice that received anti-HSV-1 antibody from pid 1 (p = 0.02), in 13 of 16 (81%) treated from pid 5 (p = 0.64), in 7 of 8 (87.5%) treated from pid 7 (p = 1.0) and in 17 of 20 (85%) controls. We conclude that early treatment with ACV or anti-HSV-1 antibody reduces the incidence of contralateral chorioretinitis in mice.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1997

Stem cells in prostatic epithelia.

The normal prostate is, structurally and functionally, a highly complex glandular tissue in which populations of epithelial and stromal cells interact, one with the other, and are under a constant state of proliferation, differentiation, elimination and selective secondary replenishment so that functional integrity of the tissue is maintained. The ability of normal prostatic tissue to maintain its structure and function is dependent upon retention of cells, generally regarded as 'stem cells', which are able to respond by proliferation and selective differentiation within a wide range of phenotypic alternatives. With respect to cells in the epithelial compartment, replenishment is possible at several levels from within distinct pathways of normal cellular differentiation. It is now appreciated that fully differentiated prostatic epithelial cells retain a far greater degree of phenotypic 'plasticity' than was earlier apparent from morphological examination of the intact tissue. This inherent plasticity, coupled with the ability of the intact tissue to respond to diverse environmental (particularly humoral) stimuli by regenerating a wide and divergent spectrum of functional prostatic epithelial phenotypes is its strength--but also its weakness. Disturbance and distortion of the homeostatic regulatory mechanisms, whether physical or humoral, which control the normal sequence of epithelial proliferation, differentiation and elimination exposes these cells, particularly multipotent 'stem cells', to an increased probability of genetic change, thus resulting in either transient, or permanent, neoplastic transformation.

Basement Membrane↗
PubMed1997

Differential expression of acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors in benign prostatic hyperplasia identified by immunohistochemistry.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression and to determine the relative cellular locations of the two peptide growth factors, acidic fibroblast growth factor (a-FGF) and basic (b)-FGF in tissues from human benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of 50 sequential and unselected cases of human BPH tissues, obtained after transurethral prostatectomy, was examined. Adjacent sections of formalin-fixed and paraffin wax-embedded tissues were stained immunohistochemically for expression of a-FGF and b-FGF using well-characterized and commercially available antibodies. The stained tissue sections were assessed for the cellular distribution of immunohistochemical products and analysed according to the relative intensity of staining as well as the spatial relationships of positively stained cells. RESULTS: Acidic-FGF was weakly expressed with a pancytoplasmic distribution within luminal glandular epithelial cells in regions of prostatic intra-epithelial neoplasia (both PIN I and II) but not by non-dysplastic normal or hyperplastic tissues. No expression of a-FGF was detected in basal epithelial cells or in the stromal compartment of any tissue examined. In contrast, b-FGF was strongly expressed within the cytoplasm of all basal epithelial cells, but not by luminal epithelial cells, in morphologically normal regions of all cases examined. Basal expression of b-FGF was diminished, or absent, in regions of mild epithelial dysplasia, particularly those strongly expressing a-FGF. Extensive nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of b-FGF occurred predominantly in smooth muscle-type stromal cells but not in all types of stromal cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed both a differential and a reciprocal expression of a- and b-FGF in non-dysplastic prostatic hyperplasia and in mildly dysplastic regions of prostatic tissues. While only small amounts of a-FGF were expressed in BPH, exclusively in the luminal epithelial compartment, its consistent appearance in PIN I and II suggests that it might contribute to the early stages of PIN. Conversely, b-FGF may be an important mediator of stromal-epithelial interaction during the pathogenesis of BPH. These results provide new information about the relative expression of these growth factors, particularly in the architectural relationships between different cell-types within normal and non-malignant prostatic tissues.

Epithelium↗
PubMed1997

Potent inhibitory effect of tetrandrine on experimental allergic conjunctivitis in mice.

This study investigated the effectiveness of tetrandrine (TDR) on experimental allergic conjunctivitis secondary to ragweed pollen. SWR/J mice were divided as follows: group 1, normal controls; group 2, sensitized but untreated; group 3, sensitized, buffered saline (BS)-treated; and group 4, sensitized, TDR-treated. The last three groups were exposed to ragweed through topical contact on the nasal and conjunctival mucosae followed by challenge with the allergen on the conjunctiva. Groups 3 and 4 received doses of BS and TDR, respectively. The allergic conjunctivitis was evaluated by scoring of the clinical signs and histopathology. mRNA gene expression of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and IL-5 in the conjunctiva was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction techniques. All mice exposed to ragweed developed allergic conjunctivitis clinically and histologically. The conjunctivitis was significantly modulated by intraperitoneal injection of a new anti-inflammatory agent, TDR. Histopathologic analysis demonstrated that TDR strikingly reduced the conjunctival eosinophil infiltration and the number of intact and degranulating mast cells. IL-1 beta and Il-5 mRNA gene expression in the conjunctiva of TDR-treated mice was dramatically down-regulated compared with untreated and BS-treated controls. The results indicate that TDR may have potential clinical use in the treatment of conjunctivitis.

Alkaloids↗