Fas/FasL Expression in the Anterior Chamber Cells of Patients with Chronic Noninfectious Uveitis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Despite ocular immune privilege, noninfectious chronic uveitis is relatively common. To investigate spontaneous turning on and off of noninfectious chronic uveitis, we examined the nature and apoptosis of infiltrating inflammatory cells from the anterior chamber of patients with chronic uveitis. METHODS: Aqueous humors were obtained with consent from patients with chronic recurrent uveitis at the time of active intraocular inflammation. Apoptosis of the infiltrating cells in aqueous humor was analyzed by flow cytometry, using fluorescence-labeled anti-CD95 antibody, anti-CD95L antibody, and Annexin V. RESULTS: Of total 35 patients recruited, 19 patients had anterior uveitis, 4 patients had intermediate uveitis, and 12 patients had panuveitis. The proportions of Fas+cell and FasL+ cell were over 90% independent of clinical characteristics of uveitis. Annexin V+ cells occupied 31.3% of all cells in aqueous humor. CONCLUSION: The high proportions of CD95+ cell, CD95L+ cell, Annexin+ cell suggest that there is an active apoptosis of inflammatory cells in anterior chamber of noninfectious chronic uveitis.