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Downie LE, Zhang X, Wu M, Karunaratne S, Loi JK, Senthil K, Arshad S, Bertram K, Cunningham AL, Carnt N, Mueller SN, Chinnery HR. Redefining the human corneal immune compartment using dynamic intravital imaging. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2217795120. [PMID: 37487076 PMCID: PMC10400993 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2217795120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The healthy human cornea is a uniquely transparent sensory tissue where immune responses are tightly controlled to preserve vision. The cornea contains immune cells that are widely presumed to be intraepithelial dendritic cells (DCs). Corneal immune cells have diverse cellular morphologies and morphological alterations are used as a marker of inflammation and injury. Based on our imaging of corneal T cells in mice, we hypothesized that many human corneal immune cells commonly defined as DCs are intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs). To investigate this, we developed functional in vivo confocal microscopy (Fun-IVCM) to investigate cell dynamics in the human corneal epithelium and stroma. We show that many immune cells resident in the healthy human cornea are T cells. These corneal IELs are characterized by rapid, persistent motility and interact with corneal DCs and sensory nerves. Imaging deeper into the corneal stroma, we show that crawling macrophages and rare motile T cells patrol the tissue. Furthermore, we identify altered immune cell behaviors in response to short-term contact lens wear (acute inflammatory stimulus), as well as in individuals with allergy (chronic inflammatory stimulus) that was modulated by therapeutic intervention. These findings redefine current understanding of immune cell subsets in the human cornea and reveal how resident corneal immune cells respond and adapt to chronic and acute stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E. Downie
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC3053, Australia
| | - Xinyuan Zhang
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC3053, Australia
| | - Mengliang Wu
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC3053, Australia
| | - Senuri Karunaratne
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC3053, Australia
| | - Joon Keit Loi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Kirthana Senthil
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC3053, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Sana Arshad
- The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW2145, Australia
| | - Kirstie Bertram
- The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW2145, Australia
| | - Anthony L. Cunningham
- The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW2145, Australia
| | - Nicole Carnt
- The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW2145, Australia
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW2052, Australia
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, LondonEC1V 9EL, United Kingdom
| | - Scott N. Mueller
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Holly R. Chinnery
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC3053, Australia
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Chiang JCB, Roy M, Kim J, Markoulli M, Krishnan AV. In-vivo corneal confocal microscopy: Imaging analysis, biological insights and future directions. Commun Biol 2023; 6:652. [PMID: 37336941 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05005-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In-vivo corneal confocal microscopy is a powerful imaging technique which provides clinicians and researcher with the capabilities to observe microstructures at the ocular surfaces in significant detail. In this Mini Review, the optics and image analysis methods with the use of corneal confocal microscopy are discussed. While novel insights of neuroanatomy and biology of the eyes, particularly the ocular surface, have been provided by corneal confocal microscopy, some debatable elements observed using this technique remain and these are explored in this Mini Review. Potential improvements in imaging methodology and instrumentation are also suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Chung Bo Chiang
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Optometry, College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, NSW, UK
| | - Maitreyee Roy
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Juno Kim
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Maria Markoulli
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Arun V Krishnan
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Department of Neurology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Hao R, Ding Y, Li X. Alterations in corneal epithelial dendritic cell in Sjogren's syndrome dry eye and clinical correlations. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11167. [PMID: 35778532 PMCID: PMC9249752 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15537-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to investigate the density and morphology of corneal dendritic cells (DCs) in dry eye (DE) patients with or without Sjogren’s syndrome (SS). This study included 28 patients with Sjogren’s syndrome dry eye (SSDE), 33 patients with non-Sjogren’s syndrome dry eye (NSSDE), and 30 age and sex matched healthy volunteers. In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) was used to investigate density and morphology (size, dendrites, and field) of DC. Compared with NSSDE and healthy group, SSDE showed significantly higher DC density, larger DC size, more DC dendrites with larger DC field (all P < 0.001). Comparison between NSSDE and healthy group demonstrated that DC density, dendrites and field were significantly higher in NSSDE. However, there was no significant difference in DC size (P = 0.076). DC density and morphological parameters showed significant associations with the systemic severity (salivary gland biopsy and serum antibodies) and ocular surface damage. The corneal epithelium DC density and morphological alterations were obvious in SSDE, which reflected higher level of immune activation and inflammatory response in SS. Marked correlations were found between DC density/morphology and systemic/ocular severity. Dynamic assessment of corneal DC may facilitate to clarify pathogenesis, stratify patient, and tailor treatment in SS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Hao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49, North Garden Street, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Ding
- Capital Medical University, No.10, Xi Toutiao, Youanmen Wai Street, Beijing, China
| | - Xuemin Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49, North Garden Street, Beijing, China. .,Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
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Zhang XY, Wu M, Chinnery HR, Downie LE. Defining an Optimal Sample Size for Corneal Epithelial Immune Cell Analysis Using in vivo Confocal Microscopy Images. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:848776. [PMID: 35721066 PMCID: PMC9199001 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.848776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) images are frequently used to quantify corneal epithelial immune cell (IC) density in clinical studies. There is currently limited evidence to inform the selection of a representative image sample size to yield a reliable IC density estimate, and arbitrary numbers of images are often used. The primary aim of this study was to determine the number of randomly selected, unique IVCM images required to achieve an acceptable level of accuracy when quantifying epithelial IC density, in both the central and peripheral cornea. The secondary aim was to evaluate the consistency and precision of an image selection approach where corneal epithelial IC density was quantified from "three representative images" selected independently by three experienced observers. Methods All combinations of two to 15 non-overlapping IVCM images were used for deriving IC density estimates, for both the central and peripheral cornea, in 20 healthy participants; the density value from averaging quantifications in the 16 images was defined as the "true mean". IC density estimates were compared with the true mean in each corneal region using a mean ratio. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to evaluate the consistency of the mean ratios of IC density estimates derived from the method involving the manual selection of "three representative images" by the observers. The precision of the IC density estimates was compared to a scenario involving three randomly selected images. Results A total of 12 randomly selected, non-overlapping IVCM images were found to be required to produce a corneal epithelial IC density estimate that was within 30% of the true mean, 95% of the time, for the central cornea; seven such images produced an equivalent level of precision in the peripheral cornea. Mean ratios of corneal IC density estimates derived from "three representative images" methods had poor consistency between observers (ICC estimates <0.5) and similar levels of precision when compared with using three randomly selected images (p > 0.05 for all comparisons), in both the central and peripheral cornea. Conclusions Data presented in this study can inform image selection methods, and the sample size required for a preferred level of accuracy, when quantifying IC densities in the central and peripheral corneal epithelium using IVCM images.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yuan Zhang
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Mengliang Wu
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Holly R Chinnery
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Laura E Downie
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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