Immunoregulation on the ocular surface: 2nd Cullen Symposium

Abstract

A one-day symposium with 20 invited participants was held to review current knowledge regarding immunoregulation in the ocular surface and cornea. The program consisted of 11 lectures on various aspects of ocular and systemic immunoregulation, followed by a group discussion to formulate regulatory pathways. The ocular surface and its secondary lymphoid tissues contain numerous components of the innate and adaptive immune systems, which modulate the immune response to suppress or prevent excessive damaging immune reactions. These include factors that regulate induction of the immune response (afferent loop), as well as effector cells and soluble factors (efferent loop). The ocular surface is an immunologically active mucosal site that contains numerous mechanisms to regulate the immune response to prevent tissue destruction and vision loss.