The immunogenicity of corneal stromal keratocytes.

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the immunogenicity of corneal stromal keratocytes with that of splenic lymphocytes. The corneal stromal keratocytes of two inbred strains of rats were propagated in tissue culture in sufficient numbers to immunize allogeneic recipients and to determine the numbers of these cells required to elicit an allogenic immune response in the recipient. At least 30 x 10(6) tissue culture-propagated keratocytes injected intraperitoneally were required to elicit an alloantigenic response in the recipient strain. This alloantigenic response was measured by determining both the titer and specificity of serum alloantibody and by assessing the cellular immune response generated in the alloimmunized recipients. The results indicate that corneal stromal keratocytes can elicit both an antibody-mediated and a cell-mediated immune response, as indicated by the presence of serum antibody and cytotoxic lymphocytes in immunized recipients. The alloantibody and cellular immune responses were directed against the class I histocompatibility antigens of the immunizing strain. Class II antigens were not detected on the cultured keratocytes.