Eosinophil extracellular trap formation in the giant papillae of atopic keratoconjunctivitis and vernal keratoconjunctivitis

• Published in: Allergology International Vol. 73; no. 1; pp. 177 - 179
• Main Authors: Onoue, Miki, Saga, Akiko, Adachi, Keisuke, Asada, Yosuke, Hirakata, Toshiaki, Iwamoto, Satoshi, Ueki, Shigeharu, Ebihara, Nobuyuki, Matsuda, Akira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01.01.2024; JAPANESE SOCIETY OF ALLERGOLOGY; Elsevier
• ISSN: 1323-8930; 1440-1592
• DOI: 10.1016/j.alit.2023.10.002

Dear Editor, Mucus discharge observed on the giant papillae (GP) in severe chronic allergic keratoconjunctivitis (CAK), such as atopic kerato-conjunctivitis (AKC) and vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), exhibits adhesive properties and remains adhered to the ocular surface. This mucus discharge contains numerous eosinophils that are cytotoxic to the ocular surface and may induce shield ulcers and/or exfoliative keratitis. Eosinophils can act as potent effector cells by secreting a variety of bioactive products, among which eosinophil extracellular traps (EETs) have recently attracted attention. EETs, mainly composed of fibrous chromatin fibers, are formed through rapid programmed cell death, namely eosinophil extracellular cell death (EETosis). In this study, we tried to show EET formation at the ocular surface of CAK patients. Smear samples were made with conjunctival mucus obtained from three CAK patients (Nos. 1, 2, and 3 in Supplementary Table 1) at upper tarsal conjunctiva using an ophthalmic spatula and glass slides.