PURPOSE: To elucidate histopathologic features of the lacrimal gland in chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. METHODS: Lacrimal gland specimens from five patients who had dry eye as part of the symptoms of chronic GVHD were examined by immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. Lacrimal gland specimens from five patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) were used as control samples. RESULTS: Lymphocytes, predominantly T cells, were found primarily in the periductal areas of the lacrimal gland from patients with chronic GVHD, whereas B cells were the dominant infiltrating cells in the acinar areas of the lacrimal gland from patients with SS. Notable findings in the lacrimal gland from patients with chronic GVHD were marked fibrosis of the glandular interstitium and an increase in the number of CD34(+) stromal fibroblasts. These findings were more prominent in patients with severe dry eye than in those with mild dry eye. Electron microscopic observations of the lacrimal gland from patients with chronic GVHD revealed that stromal fibroblasts were attached to various inflammatory cells, especially T cells, through primitive or rudimentary contacts. In addition, the presence of a well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum in the fibroblasts and newly synthesized collagen fibrils in the extracellular matrix indicated an active production of extracellular matrix components. Electron micrographs revealed multilayered and thickened basal laminae of blood vessels, ducts, and lobules in the lacrimal gland of patients with chronic GVHD; however, these observations were infrequently observed in the lacrimal glands of patients with SS. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest substantial differences in the lacrimal gland histopathology of patients with chronic GVHD and SS. In addition, it is likely that stromal fibroblasts are actively involved in the pathogenic process of chronic GVHD in the lacrimal gland by producing excessive extracellular matrix components.
PURPOSE: To elucidate histopathologic features of the lacrimal gland in chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. METHODS: Lacrimal gland specimens from five patients who had dry eye as part of the symptoms of chronic GVHD were examined by immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. Lacrimal gland specimens from five patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) were used as control samples. RESULTS: Lymphocytes, predominantly T cells, were found primarily in the periductal areas of the lacrimal gland from patients with chronic GVHD, whereas B cells were the dominant infiltrating cells in the acinar areas of the lacrimal gland from patients with SS. Notable findings in the lacrimal gland from patients with chronic GVHD were marked fibrosis of the glandular interstitium and an increase in the number of CD34(+) stromal fibroblasts. These findings were more prominent in patients with severe dry eye than in those with mild dry eye. Electron microscopic observations of the lacrimal gland from patients with chronic GVHD revealed that stromal fibroblasts were attached to various inflammatory cells, especially T cells, through primitive or rudimentary contacts. In addition, the presence of a well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum in the fibroblasts and newly synthesized collagen fibrils in the extracellular matrix indicated an active production of extracellular matrix components. Electron micrographs revealed multilayered and thickened basal laminae of blood vessels, ducts, and lobules in the lacrimal gland of patients with chronic GVHD; however, these observations were infrequently observed in the lacrimal glands of patients with SS. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest substantial differences in the lacrimal gland histopathology of patients with chronic GVHD and SS. In addition, it is likely that stromal fibroblasts are actively involved in the pathogenic process of chronic GVHD in the lacrimal gland by producing excessive extracellular matrix components.
Authors: Victor L Perez; Alexander Barsam; Stephanie Duffort; Maitee Urbieta; Henry Barreras; Casey Lightbourn; Krishna V Komanduri; Robert B Levy Journal: Biol Blood Marrow Transplant Date: 2016-08-01 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: Xia Xi; David H McMillan; Geniece M Lehmann; Patricia J Sime; Richard T Libby; Krystel R Huxlin; Steven E Feldon; Richard P Phipps Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2011-07-01 Impact factor: 4.799
Authors: Yoshihiro Inamoto; Nuria Valdés-Sanz; Yoko Ogawa; Monica Alves; Luigi Berchicci; John Galvin; Hildegard Greinix; Gregory A Hale; Biljana Horn; Debra Kelly; Hien Liu; Scott Rowley; Helene Schoemans; Ami Shah; Maria Teresa Lupo Stanghellini; Vaibhav Agrawal; Ibrahim Ahmed; Asim Ali; Neel Bhatt; Michael Byrne; Saurabh Chhabra; Zachariah DeFilipp; Kristina Fahnehjelm; Nosha Farhadfar; Erich Horn; Catherine Lee; Sunita Nathan; Olaf Penack; Pinki Prasad; Seth Rotz; Alicia Rovó; Jean Yared; Steven Pavletic; Grzegorz W Basak; Minoo Battiwalla; Rafael Duarte; Bipin N Savani; Mary E D Flowers; Bronwen E Shaw; Igor Petriček Journal: Biol Blood Marrow Transplant Date: 2018-11-24 Impact factor: 5.742