Antimicrobial compounds in tears

Abstract

The tear film coats the cornea and conjunctiva and serves several important functions. It provides lubrication, prevents drying of the ocular surface epithelia, helps provide a smooth surface for refracting light, supplies oxygen and is an important component of the innate defense system of the eye providing protection against a range of potential pathogens. This review describes both classic antimicrobial compounds found in tears such as lysozyme and some more recently identified such as members of the cationic antimicrobial peptide family and surfactant protein-D as well as potential new candidate molecules that may contribute to antimicrobial protection. As is readily evident from the literature review herein, tears, like all mucosal fluids, contain a plethora of molecules with known antimicrobial effects. That all of these are active in vivo is debatable as many are present in low concentrations, may be influenced by other tear components such as the ionic environment, and antimicrobial action may be only one of several activities ascribed to the molecule. However, there are many studies showing synergistic/additive interactions between several of the tear antimicrobials and it is highly likely that cooperativity between molecules is the primary way tears are able to afford significant antimicrobial protection to the ocular surface in vivo. In addition to effects on pathogen growth and survival some tear components prevent epithelial cell invasion and promote the epithelial expression of innate defense molecules. Given the protective role of tears a number of scenarios can be envisaged that may affect the amount and/or activity of tear antimicrobials and hence compromise tear immunity. Two such situations, dry eye disease and contact lens wear, are discussed here.

Keywords: antimicrobial; contact lens; dry eye; tears.

Figure 1. Known Tear Components with Antimicrobial Activity and their Major Source

The central drop representing the tear film contains several antimicrobial molecules which are derived primarily from the lacrimal gland and ocular surface (corneal and conjunctival) epithelial cells. An additional source depicted is the neutrophil, which can be found in tears particularly on eye opening. AMPs = antimicrobial peptides; sIgA = secretory Immunoglobulin A; sPLA₂ = secretory phospholipase A₂; SLPI = secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor; SP-D = surfactant protein D.