Liang Qing-feng, Wang Zhi-qun, Deng Shi-jing, Li Ran, Luo Shi-yun, Sun Xu-guang
Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China.
Zhonghua Yan Ke Za Zhi. 2007 Jul;43(7):613-7.
To study clinical manifestation and pathology change of different time points of rabbit keratitis caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM).
Forty-eight eyes from 48 rabbits were randomly divided into three groups:under-flap infection group (UFI group), under-flap infection group with corticosteroid (UFIC group) and surface infection group (SI group). The cornea infiltration area of all rabbits was observed. Bacterial quantitative culture and histopathological examination were performed.
In the earliest stage (5 days), the cornea was cloudy and edematous. In the middle stage (7 - 14 days), cornea stromal infiltration became its major clinical sign. In the last stage (21 days), corneal neovascularization and fibrosis were developed. The mean stromal infiltration area in UFIC group was greater than those of UFI group and SI group (F = 9.362, 8.341, P < 0.05). The number of NTM in UFIC group was higher than those of UFI group and SI group (F = 411.272, P < 0.05). In histopathological examination, there were infiltrates with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in the corneal stroma in the early stage and acid-fast bacilli was found. A plenty of lymphocytes in the cornea was found in the middle stage of NTM keratitis. In the latter stage, the fibroblast cells proliferation and corneal ulcer were cured. During the course of this infection, the number of CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocyte increased significantly, and then decreased gradually following the regress of the infection. In the stage (5 - 21 days), CD4+ T lymphocyte decreased significantly in UFIC group compared with other two groups (F = 21.907, 196.521, 12.552, 11.100, P < 0.01).
The clinical characteristic of rabbit keratitis is the multifocal dense superficial stromal infiltrates. CD4+ T lymphocyte may play an important role in NTM keratitis.
研究非结核分枝杆菌（NTM）所致兔角膜炎不同时间点的临床表现及病理变化。
将48只兔的48只眼随机分为三组：瓣下感染组（UFI组）、瓣下感染联合糖皮质激素组（UFIC组）和表面感染组（SI组）。观察所有兔的角膜浸润面积，并进行细菌定量培养和组织病理学检查。
最早阶段（5天），角膜浑浊、水肿。中期（7 - 14天），角膜基质浸润成为主要临床体征。后期（21天），角膜新生血管形成及纤维化。UFIC组的平均基质浸润面积大于UFI组和SI组（F = 9.362，8.341，P < 0.05）。UFIC组的NTM数量高于UFI组和SI组（F = 411.272，P < 0.05）。组织病理学检查显示，早期角膜基质有中性粒细胞浸润，发现抗酸杆菌。NTM角膜炎中期角膜有大量淋巴细胞。后期，成纤维细胞增殖，角膜溃疡愈合。在感染过程中，CD4⁺、CD8⁺ T淋巴细胞数量显著增加，随后随感染消退逐渐减少。在5 - 21天阶段，UFIC组的CD4⁺ T淋巴细胞与其他两组相比显著减少（F = 21.907，196.521，12.552，11.100，P < 0.01）。
兔角膜炎的临床特征为多灶性致密浅层基质浸润。CD4⁺ T淋巴细胞可能在NTM角膜炎中起重要作用。
