Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2010 Dec;18(6):488-92. doi: 10.3109/09273948.2010.525730.
The phrase "immune privilege" was coined by Peter Medawar to describe the absence of an immune response to allografts placed into the anterior chamber of the eye or brain. We now understand that immune privilege is more than a passive microenvironment with a distinctive anatomical structure that holds back immunity. The ocular microenvironment actively engages the immune system with immunosuppressive biochemical mechanisms. The unique characteristics of ocular immune privilege appear designed to protect the eye from damage while preserving foveal vision, thus providing the host with a definite survival advantage. However, the protection is not always sufficient and the eye becomes susceptible to uveitis. Uveitis is an intraocular inflammatory disorder that encompasses a wide range of underlying etiologies. It may be idiopathic or associated with systemic disease or infection. Understanding the biochemistry of immune privilege has the potential to identify its weaknesses that allow for immunity to break through.
“免疫特权”一词是由 Peter Medawar 创造的，用于描述将同种异体移植物放置在眼睛或大脑前房时不会发生免疫反应。我们现在知道，免疫特权不仅仅是一种具有独特解剖结构的被动微环境，可以阻止免疫反应。眼部微环境通过免疫抑制的生化机制积极参与免疫系统。眼部免疫特权的独特特征似乎旨在保护眼睛免受损伤，同时保持中心视力，从而为宿主提供明显的生存优势。然而，这种保护并不总是足够的，眼睛会变得容易受到葡萄膜炎的影响。葡萄膜炎是一种眼内炎症性疾病，涵盖了广泛的潜在病因。它可能是特发性的，也可能与系统性疾病或感染有关。了解免疫特权的生物化学特性有可能发现其弱点，使免疫得以突破。
