TNF‐α production in the cornea in response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa challenge

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause ulcerative bacterial keratitis or contact lens-induced acute red eye (CLARE) in humans. The present study used a mouse model of ocular infection and inflammation to examine the relationship between TNF-α and inflammation in the cornea in response to challenge with either a strain of P. aeruginosa causing keratitis or a CLARE strain. Constitutive TNF-α mRNA was detected in the epithelium, mainly towards the periphery. After infection with the keratitis-inducing strain (6294), TNF-α expression was elevated four-fold by 24 h post-challenge. No detectable induction of TNF-α mRNA was seen with CLARE strain (Paer1) challenge at any time point. The TNF-α protein production detected by ELISA showed a corresponding pattern to the mRNA expression, which also correlated with pathological changes. These results suggest that invasive strains of P. aeruginosa create greater pathological changes as a result of elevated TNF-α production, which contributes to inflammation during keratitis in vivo.
Funding Information
  • National Health and Medical Research Council