The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of HLA-DR antigen on conjunctival epithelial cells from patients with dry eye.
Ophthalmic examination and dry eye diagnostic tests were performed. Impression cytology specimens were collected in thirty patients with dry eye and in thirty people of control group. Conjunctival epithelial cells were processed for flow cytometry, by using monoclonal antibodies to HLA-DR.
A significant increase of HLA-DR expression on epithelial cells was found in patients with dry eye compared with normal eyes. We also found positive correlation of increased expression HLA-DR with ocular complaints and diagnostic tests for dry eye such as Schirmer test, FBUT and lissamine green staining.
These results confirm the presence of immunological processes in the pathogenesis of dry eye syndrome. Increased expression of HLA-DR antigen positively correlates with the parameters of dry eye diagnostic tests. HLA-DR measurement might be a useful method for monitoring inflammatory conjunctival changes in this disorder.