TSLP And IL-4 In Experimental Mouse Allergic Conjunctivitis

Objective:Artemisia annua is a common plant in north China. The extracting solution of artemisia annua pollen sensitized mice is used in this experiment to study TSLP and IL-4expression in mouse ocular surface. The role of TSLP and IL-4 in allergic conjunctivitis will be illuminated.Methods:Female BALB/c mice, ranging from 6 to 8 weeks of age, were immunized with the extracting solution of artemisia annua pollen by footpad injection on day 0. The immunized mice were given topical applications of extracting solution into each eye once a day from the day 10 th to 12 th. After last challenge, the corneal epithelium, conjunctiva,whole eyes, and cervical lymph nodes were harvested for gene expression assays and Immunohistochemical staining(IHC) to test the expression of TSLP and IL-4. Normal controls were treated with allergen solvent.Results:Real-Time PCR indicates that the expression of IL-4 is absent in corneal epithelium of experimental group and normal control group.The relative expression levels of corneal epithelium TSLP m RNA was 1.63± 0.20(P<0.05).The relative expression levels of conjunctiva TSLP m RNA and IL-4 m RNA were 2.71± 0.48(P<0.05)and 2.94± 0.67(P < 0.05) respectively. The relative expression levels of cervical lymph nodes TSLP m RNA and IL-4 m RNA were 1.48± 0.08(P<0.05)and 1.74± 0.16(P<0.05)respectively. All results were considered statistically significant. IL-4, TSLP were positively expressed in IHC experimental group. IL-4 was absent and TSLP expressed weakly in control group.Conclusion:TSLP and IL-4 as key inflammatory cytokines participant in the pathogenesis and development of allergic conjunctivitis, and may become new important therapeutic targetes.