Solomon Abraham, Puxeddu Ilaria, Levi-Schaffer Francesca
Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003 Oct;3(5):389-93. doi: 10.1097/00130832-200310000-00012.
Mast cells and eosinophils are the main effector cells in allergic inflammation, but there is now compelling evidence that fibroblasts are also important players in the inflammatory response. In fact, they respond to different stimuli and release several mediators that modulate mast-cell and eosinophil functionality. In several allergic conditions such as vernal keratoconjunctivitis, asthma and atopic dermatitis the chronic presence of the inflammatory process has been associated with fibrosis and tissue remodeling, which in turn could cause irreversible alterations in the organ anatomy and functions. This review will discuss current advances in mast cell, eosinophil and fibroblast interactions in terms of their importance in the perpetuation of allergic inflammation and in contributing to the fibrosis and/or remodeling process in ocular allergy. As a main example of allergic ocular diseases associated with fibrosis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis is discussed in the light of recent findings.
Several studies have recently shown that fibroblasts can modulate the functions of mast cells and eosinophils through the membrane form of stem cell factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, respectively. On the other hand, fibroblasts can be affected by inflammatory mediators derived from mast cells and eosinophils, such as transforming growth factor beta and nerve growth factor and by the T helper type 2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13, and vernal keratoconjunctivitis-derived fibroblasts display altered functions.
Considerable useful information has been gained about the role of mast cells, eosinophils and fibroblasts in the perpetuation of allergic inflammation and tissue fibrosis and/or remodeling in general, and specifically in ocular allergy.
肥大细胞和嗜酸性粒细胞是过敏性炎症中的主要效应细胞，但现在有确凿证据表明成纤维细胞也是炎症反应中的重要参与者。事实上，它们对不同刺激作出反应并释放多种调节肥大细胞和嗜酸性粒细胞功能的介质。在春季角结膜炎、哮喘和特应性皮炎等多种过敏性疾病中，炎症过程的长期存在与纤维化和组织重塑相关，这反过来可能导致器官解剖结构和功能的不可逆改变。本综述将讨论肥大细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞和成纤维细胞相互作用的当前进展，涉及其在过敏性炎症持续存在以及导致眼部过敏的纤维化和/或重塑过程中的重要性。作为与纤维化相关的过敏性眼病的主要例子，根据最近的研究结果对春季角结膜炎进行了讨论。
最近的几项研究表明，成纤维细胞可分别通过干细胞因子的膜形式和粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子调节肥大细胞和嗜酸性粒细胞的功能。另一方面，成纤维细胞可受到肥大细胞和嗜酸性粒细胞衍生的炎症介质的影响，如转化生长因子β和神经生长因子，以及2型辅助性T细胞细胞因子白细胞介素-4和白细胞介素-13，并且春季角结膜炎衍生的成纤维细胞表现出功能改变。
关于肥大细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞和成纤维细胞在过敏性炎症持续存在以及一般组织纤维化和/或重塑，特别是眼部过敏中的作用，已经获得了大量有用信息。
