Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Immunol Res. 2010 Jul;47(1-3):153-61. doi: 10.1007/s12026-009-8146-1.
Immune reactivity in the retina can be critically important in inflammation and infections, but regulation of this response is essential. The retinal pigment epithelial (RPE), a unique retinal cell, displays a number of essential functions to support the health of the retina. In this review, we highlight how the RPE cell plays a pivotal role in immune defense. The RPE cell orchestrates both innate and adaptive immunity since it expresses TLRs, complement components, MHC class I and II molecules, and serves as an antigen presenting cell. Moreover, both of these immune responses result in the production of a plethora of cytokines, mainly proinflammatory. In order to counteract these inflammatory factors and silence unwanted immune reactivity, the RPE cell also generates suppressive molecules. Recently, chronic immune reactivity has been implicated in a number of retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Current evidence suggests that the generation of excessive retinal inflammation may be the consequence of a loss of RPE immunosuppressive factors. Herein, we summarize the varied interactions of the RPE cell with the immune response and highlight how the RPE cell survives and participates in this dynamic environment.
视网膜中的免疫反应在炎症和感染中至关重要，但调节这种反应至关重要。视网膜色素上皮（RPE）是一种独特的视网膜细胞，具有许多支持视网膜健康的基本功能。在这篇综述中，我们强调了 RPE 细胞在免疫防御中的关键作用。RPE 细胞协调先天和适应性免疫，因为它表达 TLR、补体成分、MHC Ⅰ类和Ⅱ类分子，并作为抗原呈递细胞。此外，这两种免疫反应都会导致大量细胞因子的产生，主要是促炎细胞因子。为了对抗这些炎症因子并沉默不必要的免疫反应，RPE 细胞还会产生抑制性分子。最近，慢性免疫反应与多种视网膜疾病有关，如年龄相关性黄斑变性（AMD）。目前的证据表明，视网膜过度炎症的产生可能是 RPE 免疫抑制因子丧失的结果。本文总结了 RPE 细胞与免疫反应的各种相互作用，并强调了 RPE 细胞如何在这种动态环境中存活并参与其中。
