The T-lymphocyte chemoattractant Mig is highly expressed in vernal keratoconjunctivitis

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the expression of the three interferon-γ- inducible CXCR3-binding chemokines, CXCL10/IP-10 (interferon-γ-inducible protein of 10 KDa), CXCL9/Mig (monokine induced by interferon-γ), and CXCL11/I-TAC (interferon-inducible T-cell α chemoattractant) in the conjunctiva of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). These chemokines exhibit potent T-lymphocyte chemoattractant activity. DESIGN: Immunohistochemical study. METHODS: Conjunctival biopsy specimens from 16 patients with active VKC and nine control subjects were studied by immunohistochemical techniques using monoclonal antibodies directed against IP-10, Mig, and I-TAC. The phenotype of inflammatory cells expressing chemokines was examined by double immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In the normal conjunctiva, very weak Mig immunoreactivity was observed on basal epithelial cells and on vascular endothelial cells in the upper substantia propria. There was no immunoreactivity for the other chemokines. In all VKC specimens, strong immunoreactivity for Mig was expressed by epithelial cells, vascular endothelial cells, and inflammatory mononuclear cells. Inflammatory mononuclear cells expressing IP-10 and I-TAC were noted in 10 and nine specimens, respectively. The numbers of Mig+ inflammatory cells were significantly higher than the numbers of IP-10+ and I-TAC + inflammatory cells (P