Researchers Discover New Role of Immune Cells in Eye Health

研究人员发现免疫细胞在眼睛健康中的新作用

October 07, 2024

2024年10月7日

The eye is considered an immune-privileged organ due to the need to keep blood vessels out of the central visual pathway and prevent inflammatory cells from causing damage. This raises significant questions about how the eye manages inflammation when it inevitably occurs.

眼睛被认为是一种免疫特权器官，因为它需要使血管远离中央视觉通路，并防止炎症细胞造成损害。这就提出了一个重要的问题，即当炎症不可避免地发生时，眼睛如何管理炎症。

A new study led by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University has uncovered how the eye deals with inflammation, specifically in cases of autoimmune uveitis. Autoimmune uveitis is a condition where the immune privilege of the eye is bypassed, leading to potential damage to healthy eye tissues.

托马斯·杰斐逊大学研究人员领导的一项新研究揭示了眼睛如何应对炎症，特别是在自身免疫性葡萄膜炎的情况下。自身免疫性葡萄膜炎是一种绕过眼睛免疫特权的疾病，导致对健康眼组织的潜在损害。

Immune Cells and Eye Inflammation

免疫细胞与眼部炎症

Previous studies by Jefferson researcher Sue Menko, PhD, demonstrated that immune cells gather on the surface of the lens in response to acute injury and prolonged inflammation in other parts of the eye. This was the first documented instance of immune cells being recruited to the lens surface, which sparked questions about their ongoing surveillance role and whether they play a part in resolving inflammation..

杰斐逊研究人员Sue Menko博士之前的研究表明，免疫细胞聚集在晶状体表面，以应对眼睛其他部位的急性损伤和长期炎症。这是第一个有文献记载的免疫细胞被募集到晶状体表面的例子，这引发了人们对其持续监测作用以及它们是否在解决炎症方面发挥作用的疑问。。

The latest study, published in The American Journal of Pathology, provides answers to these questions. Researchers found that macrophages with an immunoregulatory phenotype and regulatory T cells (Tregs) are actively recruited to the lens surface during inflammation. These immune cells help restore balance and reduce inflammation, and they stay on the lens surface until the inflammation is resolved..

发表在《美国病理学杂志》上的最新研究为这些问题提供了答案。研究人员发现，具有免疫调节表型和调节性T细胞（Tregs）的巨噬细胞在炎症过程中被主动募集到晶状体表面。这些免疫细胞有助于恢复平衡并减少炎症，它们会留在晶状体表面，直到炎症消退。。

New Insight into the Eye’s Immune Response

对眼睛免疫反应的新见解

'Debunking the idea that the eye cannot care for itself is a significant finding,' says Dr. Menko. 'This discovery helps us understand how diseases like uveitis are resolved in the eye. Maintaining a non-inflammatory environment is essential for preserving vision, and we now know that the eye has inherent mechanisms to achieve this.'.

门科博士说，解开眼睛不能照顾自己的想法是一个重要的发现这一发现有助于我们了解葡萄膜炎等疾病是如何在眼睛中解决的。维持非炎症环境对于保持视力至关重要，我们现在知道眼睛有实现这一目标的内在机制。”。

The study involved MD-PhD student and first author Phuong Lee, as well as researchers from the National Eye Institute and George Washington University.

这项研究涉及医学博士生和第一作者PhuongLee，以及国家眼科研究所和乔治华盛顿大学的研究人员。

Implications for Autoimmune Uveitis Treatments

自身免疫性葡萄膜炎治疗的意义

The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the eye’s natural defense mechanisms, which could pave the way for more effective treatment strategies for autoimmune uveitis. Dr. Menko’s future research will focus on identifying the mechanisms that recruit immune cells to the lens, as well as the initial alert systems that trigger this immunoregulatory inflammation in uveitis and other inflammatory eye conditions..

该研究强调了解眼睛的自然防御机制的重要性，这可能为更有效的自身免疫性葡萄膜炎治疗策略铺平道路。Menko博士未来的研究将集中于确定将免疫细胞募集到晶状体的机制，以及在葡萄膜炎和其他炎症性眼病中引发这种免疫调节炎症的初始警报系统。。

Studying Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis

研究多发性硬化症的炎症

Nearly three million people worldwide are affected by multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease in which immune cells attack the brain, causing symptoms such as vision loss, muscle weakness, and sensory problems. The most common form of MS is relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), characterized by periods of flare-ups followed by remission.

全世界近300万人受到多发性硬化症（MS）的影响，MS是一种自身免疫性疾病，免疫细胞攻击大脑，导致视力丧失，肌肉无力和感觉问题等症状。MS最常见的形式是复发缓解型MS（RRMS），其特征是发作期随后缓解。

While several therapies effectively address inflammation and prevent new flare-ups, a new study aims to find a way to stop ongoing nerve damage..

虽然有几种疗法可以有效地解决炎症并防止新的发作，但一项新的研究旨在找到一种停止持续神经损伤的方法。。

Silva Markovic-Plese, MD, PhD, and her team at Thomas Jefferson University have been studying RRMS for over a decade. In a previous study, they found elevated levels of an immune chemical called IL-11 in the cerebrospinal fluid of RRMS patients. This finding raised new questions about IL-11’s role in MS..

托马斯·杰斐逊大学医学博士席尔瓦·马科维奇·普莱斯和她的团队研究RRMS已有十多年了。在之前的一项研究中，他们发现RRMS患者脑脊液中一种名为IL-11的免疫化学物质水平升高。这一发现提出了关于IL-11在MS中的作用的新问题。。

The Role of IL-11 in MS Progression

IL-11在MS进展中的作用

IL-11 is a cytokine that stimulates blood cell growth. In the current study, researchers discovered that IL-11 also facilitates the migration of inflammatory cells to the brain, contributing to the progression of RRMS. They hypothesized that blocking IL-11 could alleviate symptoms associated with RRMS.

IL-11是一种刺激血细胞生长的细胞因子。在目前的研究中，研究人员发现IL-11还促进炎症细胞向大脑的迁移，从而促进RRMS的进展。他们假设阻断IL-11可以缓解与RRMS相关的症状。

To test this, they used an antibody to reduce IL-11 levels in mice, which resulted in decreased disease severity. The treated mice showed lower levels of several inflammatory markers and reduced disease progression compared to control mice..

为了测试这一点，他们使用了一种抗体来降低小鼠的IL-11水平，从而降低了疾病的严重程度。与对照组小鼠相比，治疗组小鼠的几种炎症标志物水平较低，疾病进展减少。。

Potential Therapeutic Approaches for MS

MS的潜在治疗方法

Although still in pre-clinical stages, Dr. Markovic-Plese is optimistic. 'Blocking IL-11 could potentially prevent disease development by inhibiting the early inflammatory response,' she notes. The therapeutic approaches tested by Dr. Markovic-Plese's team are currently in phase I clinical trials for pulmonary fibrosis, a condition triggered by autoimmune responses similar to those seen in MS.

虽然仍处于临床前阶段，但马尔科维奇·普莱塞博士对此持乐观态度她指出，阻断IL-11可能通过抑制早期炎症反应来预防疾病的发展。Markovic Plese博士的团队测试的治疗方法目前正在进行肺纤维化的I期临床试验，这种情况是由自身免疫反应引发的，类似于MS。

If further studies continue to show positive outcomes for the neuroprotective effects of IL-11 antibodies, this treatment could become available to MS patients in the future..

如果进一步的研究继续显示IL-11抗体的神经保护作用有积极的结果，这种治疗方法可能在未来适用于MS患者。。

Conclusion

结论

These studies represent a significant advancement in our understanding of how the body’s immune system interacts with sensitive tissues like the eye and brain. Insights into the immune regulatory mechanisms in the eye could lead to better treatments for autoimmune uveitis, while new research into blocking inflammatory responses in MS offers hope for preventing disease progression.

这些研究代表了我们对身体免疫系统如何与眼睛和大脑等敏感组织相互作用的理解的重大进步。深入了解眼睛的免疫调节机制可以更好地治疗自身免疫性葡萄膜炎，而阻断MS炎症反应的新研究为预防疾病进展提供了希望。

Both studies underscore the complexity of autoimmune responses and the promise of targeted immunotherapy in addressing these challenging conditions..

这两项研究都强调了自身免疫反应的复杂性以及靶向免疫治疗在解决这些具有挑战性的疾病方面的前景。。