ABSTRACT
Purpose: To explore whether CCR7–CCL19 and CCR7-CCL21 affect the pathophysiology of the dry eye disease (DED) immuno-inflammatory response using a murine model.
Methods: The mRNA expression levels of CCR7, CCL19, CCL21 and VEGF-C within corneas in DED mice were detected by real-time PCR. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometric analyses were performed to mark dendritic cells (DCs) and detect correlations among CCR7, CCL19, CCL21 and lymphatic vessels.
Results: CCR7, CCL19 and CCL21 expression was dramatically increased during the development of DED. In addition, CCR7, which is expressed in DCs, was located inside and around lymphatic vessels and colocalized with CCL19 or CCL21. Positive correlations were observed between CCR7 and CCL19 (P < .01, r = 0.862), CCL21 (P < .01, r = 0.759), and VEGF-C (P < .05, r = 0.607).
Conclusions: Our study revealed that both the CCR7-CCL19 and CCR7-CCL21 chemokine axis are important for DC migration to lymphatic vessels, but CCL19 may have a greater effect on DED than CCL21.
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DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST
No conflict of interest is declared by the authors.