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The action of anti-allergic drugs in seasonal allergic conjunctivitis

The action of anti-allergic drugs in seasonal allergic conjunctivitis
The action of anti-allergic drugs in seasonal allergic conjunctivitis

In this thesis studies are presented which examine the immunoinflammatory mechanisms underlying SAC and whether the conjunctival allergen challenge model mimics them. A number of double-blind placebo controlled studies were carried out to examine the effects of 2% nedocromil sodium eye drops, a purported mast cell stabilizer, and 0.05% levocabastine eye drops, a H1 antihistamine, on the symptoms and immunoinflammatory mechanisms of SAC. Two studies were conducted using the conjunctival allergen challenge model, whilst one study was conducted during the grass pollen season.

Using IHC, the expression of E-selectin, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and the numbers of MCr, MCrc, neutrophils, eosinophils were investigated. In addition, IHC also allowed the detection of cytokine protein, in contrast to ISH which detected cytokine mRNA. Tear mediator concentrations were determined using commercially available radio- and enzyme immunoassays.

In the conjunctival submucosa of subjects with active SAC, the number of MCr (P<0.05), neutrophils and eosinophils increased. In addition, increases in the percentage of 3H4 (P<0.05), IL-5, IL-6, IL-13 and TNFα (P<0.05) protein-positive mast cells were observed and corresponded to increases in IL-4 and TNFα mRNA-positive mast cells. These observations accompanied increases in tear histamine. PGD2 and ECP (P<0.05 for all mediators). These findings suggest an important role for the mast cell in SAC, with other cells such as eosinophils and basophils, contributing to a lesser extent. The observations in active SAC were "mirrored" in the conjunctival allergen challenge model, highlighting the importance of this model in evaluating therapeutic agents to treat SAC.

University of Southampton
Ahluwalia, Poonam
27eebd5a-7476-4f0f-b495-9a863f43d8ea
Ahluwalia, Poonam
27eebd5a-7476-4f0f-b495-9a863f43d8ea

Ahluwalia, Poonam (2000) The action of anti-allergic drugs in seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

In this thesis studies are presented which examine the immunoinflammatory mechanisms underlying SAC and whether the conjunctival allergen challenge model mimics them. A number of double-blind placebo controlled studies were carried out to examine the effects of 2% nedocromil sodium eye drops, a purported mast cell stabilizer, and 0.05% levocabastine eye drops, a H1 antihistamine, on the symptoms and immunoinflammatory mechanisms of SAC. Two studies were conducted using the conjunctival allergen challenge model, whilst one study was conducted during the grass pollen season.

Using IHC, the expression of E-selectin, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and the numbers of MCr, MCrc, neutrophils, eosinophils were investigated. In addition, IHC also allowed the detection of cytokine protein, in contrast to ISH which detected cytokine mRNA. Tear mediator concentrations were determined using commercially available radio- and enzyme immunoassays.

In the conjunctival submucosa of subjects with active SAC, the number of MCr (P<0.05), neutrophils and eosinophils increased. In addition, increases in the percentage of 3H4 (P<0.05), IL-5, IL-6, IL-13 and TNFα (P<0.05) protein-positive mast cells were observed and corresponded to increases in IL-4 and TNFα mRNA-positive mast cells. These observations accompanied increases in tear histamine. PGD2 and ECP (P<0.05 for all mediators). These findings suggest an important role for the mast cell in SAC, with other cells such as eosinophils and basophils, contributing to a lesser extent. The observations in active SAC were "mirrored" in the conjunctival allergen challenge model, highlighting the importance of this model in evaluating therapeutic agents to treat SAC.

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Published date: 2000

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 464217
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/464217
PURE UUID: f6c64205-15cc-41e7-980e-9d0a792f7f0b

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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 21:36
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 19:20

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Author: Poonam Ahluwalia

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