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Abstract #50527 Published in IGR 14-2

Benzalkonium chloride breaks down conjunctival immunological tolerance in a murine model

Galletti JG; Gabelloni ML; Morande PE; Sabbione F; Vermeulen ME; Trevani AS; Giordano MN
Mucosal immunology 2013; 6: 24-34


The impact of topical eye drops with benzalkonium chloride (BAK) as a preservative could involve more than the reported toxic effects on the ocular surface epithelium and ultimately affect the immune balance of the conjunctiva. We found that BAK not only impairs tolerance induction in a murine model, but leads to mild systemic immunization. Contrasting with antigen only-treated mice, there was no induction of interleukin 10-producing antigen-specific CD4(+) cells in BAK-treated animals. Moreover, the tolerogenic capacity of migrating dendritic cells (DCs) was reduced, apparently involving differential conditioning by soluble epithelial factors. Accordingly, epithelial cells exposed in vitro to BAK were less suppressive and failed to induce tolerogenic DCs in culture. As this effect of BAK was dependent on epithelial nuclear factor κB pathway activation, our findings may provide new therapeutic targets. Thus, tolerance breakdown by BAK should be considered an important factor in the management of glaucoma and immune-mediated ocular surface disorders.Mucosal Immunology advance online publication 13 June 2012; doi:10.1038/mi.2012.44.

1] Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Medicine (IMEX), National Academy of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentina [2] Ophthalmology Division, Hospital de Clínicas, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Full article

Classification:

11.16 Vehicles, delivery systems, pharmacokinetics, formulation (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
5.1 Rodent (Part of: 5 Experimental glaucoma; animal models)
2.1 Conjunctiva (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
3.10 Immunobiology (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)



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