[T-lymphocyte population in the normal human cornea].

T-lymphocytes of the normal human cornea (10 donors) were studied from corneal fragments cultured in IL-2 medium. Their phenotypic repertoire was performed by FACS analysis using the following monoclonal antibodies: CD3, CD19, CD4, CD29, CD18, CD16, CD56, CD25, TCR alpha/beta, TCR alpha/delta. Functional analysis was done by proliferation assays (PLT). T cell growth was more often obtained from peripheral (n = 7/10) than central corneal parts (n = 3/10). Most of the cultured cells carried the CD8 marker, were activated (HLA-DR+) and had a cytotoxic function (CD 18+). All their T cell-receptors were alpha/beta type. No NK cells could be detected. No specific proliferation was observed when tested on a panel of HLA typed presenting cells. This study demonstrated activated T-lymphocytes in the normal human cornea. These activated, cytotoxic CD8+ lymphocytes could participate in the particular immunological characteristics of the eye.