An overview of recent developments in corneal immunobiology: Potential relevance in the etiogenesis of corneal disease in the horse

Abstract

This paper overviews some recent developments in mammalian corneal immunobiology, and discusses how these may act as pointers towards understanding the immunology underlying some common corneal diseases in the horse, including infectious ulceration and presumptively immune-mediated non-ulcerative disease. Specifically, three aspects of corneal immunobiology are examined: the role of Toll-like receptors in surface immunity and in the etiogenesis of microbial ulceration, the relationship between conjunctiva associated lymphoid tissue (CALT) and immunoprotection of the corneal surface, and the mechanisms determining corneal immune privilege (IP) and how down regulation of IP may be an important factor in the genesis of corneal immunoinflammatory disease. © 2008 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.