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Anatomy of Mammalian Conjunctival Lymphoepithelium

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Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film, and Dry Eye Syndromes 2

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 438))

Abstract

The eye’s external surfaces (conjunctiva and cornea) encounter both airborne and contact pathogens.1 The eyelids, an intermittent barrier, periodically wipe the eye’s surface free of debris and spread the preocular tear film. Aqueous tears from the main and accessory lacrimal glands bathe the ocular surface with lysozyme, lactoferrin, and other factors of innate defense, and deliver monospecific secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA). Goblet cell-derived and intrinsic mucins mix with the aqueous tears and obfuscate attachment of pathogenic organisms. Meibomian gland-derived lipids lubricate opposing ocular surfaces, and indirectly bolster innate ocular surface defense by delay of aqueous tear evaporation. The conjunctiva and cornea are anatomically proximate, are awash in the same tear film, and encounter the same microbes. Yet, the constitutive immune armaments of the conjunctiva and cornea are dramatically different (Table 1).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Molecular Pathogenesis of Eye Infection Research Center Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, USA

    James Chodosh & Robert E. Nordquist

  2. Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

    Ronald C. Kennedy

Authors
  1. James Chodosh
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  2. Robert E. Nordquist
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  3. Ronald C. Kennedy
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    David A. Sullivan  & Darlene A. Dartt  & 

  2. Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

    Michele A. Meneray

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Chodosh, J., Nordquist, R.E., Kennedy, R.C. (1998). Anatomy of Mammalian Conjunctival Lymphoepithelium. In: Sullivan, D.A., Dartt, D.A., Meneray, M.A. (eds) Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film, and Dry Eye Syndromes 2. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 438. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5359-5_79

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5359-5_79

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7445-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-5359-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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