Quantitation of corneal inflammation by chemiluminescense
M. J. Chusid and M. L. Shea
Various inflammatory agents, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, bacterial
filtrates, endotoxin, and phorbol myristate acetate were found to induce
significant increases in corneal chemiluminescense (CLM). Disruption of
polymorphonuclear leukocytes within corneas by sonication, freeze-thawing
or cryotherapy, or reduction of corneal infiltration by induction of
neutropenia resulted in marked decreases of CLM. Increased corneal CLM was
associated with significant increases in corneal thickness and water
content. Oxygen-free radical scavengers significantly inhibited CLM of
experimentally infected corneas in vitro, as did the anti-inflammatory
agents prednisolone acetate, indomethacin, and salicylic acid. In vivo
therapy of infected corneas with prednisolone resulted in significant
reductions in corneal CLM, thickness, and water content compared with
saline-treated eyes. The CLM assay is a simple technique that allows
quantitation of corneal inflammation and evaluation of the effect of
therapeutic agents on corneal inflammation.
