Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0022568 (keratitis)
 5,133 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

T-cell responses to pathogenic free-living amoebae, Acanthamoeba sp., were analyzed in healthy Japanese individuals. Of 20 healthy subjects, 10 (50%) showed significant proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to the soluble amoebic antigens in vitro. The antigens used were not mitogenic, and no evidence of amoebic superantigens was available. We established human T-cell clones reactive to Acanthamoeba, all of which were CD3- and CD4-positive, CD8-negative, and TCR-alpha beta-positive. We isolated two strains of Acanthamoeba from two patients, one from a patient with meningoencephalitis (CSF strain) and the other from a patient with keratitis (K strain). Of 13 clones, 11 were reactive to the K-strain as well as to the CSF-strain antigen under human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR restriction, whereas the other two were specific for the K-strain antigen. All but one clone tested showed TH1-equivalent functions because these cells produced interferon (IFN)-gamma in response to the amoebic antigen but produced no detectable level of interleukin 4 (IL-4). These results suggest that immunocompetent hosts might have acquired protective immunity mediated by Acanthamoeba-specific T-cells during natural sensitization.
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PMID:Acanthamoeba-specific human T-cell clones isolated from healthy individuals. 785 19

Meibomian gland inflammation, "meibomitis," is associated with ocular surface inflammatory diseases. However, these diseases are poorly defined clinically, making effective treatment difficult. Herein, we propose a new disease subset, termed meibomitis-related keratoconjunctivitis (MRKC). The ocular surface features of MRKC include: meibomitis with redness and swelling of the eyelid margin and palpebral conjunctiva; superficial vascularization and granulomatous nodules in the cornea; and conjunctival hyperemia, similar or identical to that observed in phlyctenular keratitis. The characteristics of MRKC patients include a significantly higher prevalence in women, multiple history of chalazia, close association with meibomitis, the presence of specific human leukocyte antigen association, high Propionibacterium acnes detection rates in meibum culture, and the effectiveness of systemic antimicrobial therapy targeting P. acnes. MRKC may share many clinical features with ocular rosacea, especially during childhood. The clinical effectiveness of systemic antimicrobial agents in treating both diseases suggests the importance of focusing on the elimination of bacteria such as P. acnes.
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PMID:Meibomitis-related keratoconjunctivitis: implications and clinical significance of meibomian gland inflammation. 2303 34