ArticleDer Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft2003
[Eye-associated lymphoid tissue (EALT) is continuously spread throughout the ocular surface from the lacrimal gland to the lacrimal drainage system].
Article in Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft, 2003. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers.
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Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 51 citations in OpenAlex.
- Histological Diversity of Eyelids and the Nictitating Membrane in Six Woodpecker Species (Picidae).Veterinary sciences · 2026Article
- Advances in the Understanding of ocular and nasal lymphatics.BMC immunology · 2025Review
- A review of the application of in-vivo confocal microscopy on conjunctival diseases.Eye and vision (London, England) · 2024Review
- Review
- The Communication between Ocular Surface and Nasal Epithelia in 3D Cell Culture Technology for Translational Research: A Narrative Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Review
- Review
- Conjunctival dysbiosis in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.Scientific reports · 2019Article
- Age-related Defects in Ocular and Nasal Mucosal Immune System and the Immunopathology of Dry Eye Disease.Ocular immunology and inflammation · 2016Review
- The ocular conjunctiva as a mucosal immunization route: a profile of the immune response to the model antigen tetanus toxoid.PloS one · 2013Article
- Mucosal herpes immunity and immunopathology to ocular and genital herpes simplex virus infections.Clinical & developmental immunology · 2012Review
- Review
- Engagement of TLR2 reverses the suppressor function of conjunctiva CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and promotes herpes simplex virus epitope-specific CD4+CD25- effector T cell responses.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2011Article
- Nasolacrimal duct closure modulates ocular mucosal and systemic CD4(+) T-cell responses induced following topical ocular or intranasal immunization.Clinical and vaccine immunology : CVI · 2010Article
- [Meibomian glands : part IV. Functional interactions in the pathogenesis of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)].Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft · 2009Article
- [Meibomian glands. Part II: physiology, characteristics, distribution and function of meibomian oil].Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft · 2009Review
- [Epiphora. Age-related changes of the ocular surface, eyelid function and the efferent tear ducts].Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft · 2009Review
- Functional Foxp3+ CD4+ CD25(Bright+) "natural" regulatory T cells are abundant in rabbit conjunctiva and suppress virus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ effector T cells during ocular herpes infection.Journal of virology · 2007Article
- [Classification of biomedical research reports as a reference for evidence-based medicine in ophthalmology. A survey considering as example the journal Der Ophthalmologe].Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft · 2005Article
- Ultrastructural anatomy of CALT follicles in the rabbit reveals characteristics of M-cells, germinal centres and high endothelial venules.Journal of anatomy · 2005Article
- The role of eye-associated lymphoid tissue in corneal immune protection.Journal of anatomy · 2005Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionComponents of the mucosal immune system (MALT) have been identified in the conjunctiva (as CALT) and the lacrimal drainage system (as LDALT). Their structural and functional relation with the established immune protection by the lacrimal gland is unclear. MATERIAL AND
methodsMacroscopically normal and complete tissues of the conjunctiva, lacrimal drainage system and lacrimal gland from human body donors were investigated by analysis of translucent whole mounts, and using histology, immunohistology as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy.
resultsA typical diffuse lymphoid tissue, composed of effector cells of the immune system (T-lymphocytes and IgA producing plasma cells) under an epithelium that contains the IgA transporter SC, is not isolated in the conjunctiva and lacrimal drainage system. It is anatomically continuous from the lacrimal gland along its excretory ducts into the conjunctiva and from there via the lacrimal canaliculi into the lacrimal drainage system. Lymphoid follicles occur in a majority (about 60%) and with bilateral symmetry. The topography of CALT corresponds to the position of the cornea in the closed eye.
conclusionThese results show that the MALT of the lacrimal gland, conjunctiva and lacrimal drainage system constitute an anatomical and functional unit for immune protection of the ocular surface. Therefore it should be integrated as an "eye-associated lymphoid tissue" (EALT) into the MALT system of the body. EALT can detect ocular surface antigens by the lymphoid follicles and can supply other organs and the ocular surface including the lacrimal gland with specific effector cells via the regulated recirculation of lymphoid cells.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.