CORNEAL LANGERHANS CELLS DURING STORAGE I N ORGAN-CULTURE MEDIUM

Background: Corneal HLA-DR antigens are going to be lost during organ culture storage. This study investigated if this phenomenon is based o n down-regulation of the HLA-DR antigen, or on a loss of the HLA-DR-po sitive corneal Langerhans cells (LCs). Material and methods: Corneal L Cs were stained in situ by the method of fluorescence-associated immun ohistochemistry, and the organ culture mediums underwent flow cytometr ic analysis for HLA-DR-positive corneal LC at the end of the storage p eriod. Results: All stored corneas were negative for HLA-DR after 14 d ays and HLA-DR antigens could be detected in culture medium at the end of the storage time. Conclusion: Flow cytometry showed that organ cul ture storage leads to loss of HLA-DR-positive cells and not only to a loss of antigen presentation.