In the current study, we demonstrated that not only the endothelial cell density showed a significant reduction in the affected eyes of the patients with unilateral PSS, but also the number and density of CSNs, especially the contralateral unaffected eyes, as compared to the age-matched controls. We, for the first time, evaluated the in vivo LSCM images of corneal nerves and endothelial cells together in the patients with unilateral PSS. Our results indicated that unilateral corneal endothelial cells and bilateral corneal nerves were significantly reduced in patients with unilateral PSS.
In the current study, we observed a significant reduction of endothelial cell density only in the affected eyes of the patients with unilateral PSS. Endothelial cell density decease in the eyes affected with PSS has been reported in previous study[22-24] , but not compared between the unaffected eyes and the normal control eyes. Corneal endothelial cell loss has been suggested to be positive correlated with the cytomegalovirus viral load of aqueous humor[25]. Significant reduction of endothelial cell density was only shown in the PSS-affected eyes instead of both eyes, potentially attributed to different viral load between the PSS-affected and unaffected eyes.
Using the in vivo LSCM, we observed a significant lower number and density of CSNs in the affected eyes of the patients with unilateral PSS, as compared to the control eyes. Notably, in the contralateral unaffected eyes of all patients with unilateral PSS, we also observed a significant reduction in the number of main nerve trunks as well as the density of total nerves and main nerve trunks as compared to the control eyes. We further showed a positive correlation between endothelial cell density and the density of main nerve trunks in the affected eyes of the patients with unilateral PSS. Although bilateral changes of CSN has been described in unilateral virus keratitis[6, 26] and after unilateral cataract surgery[27], we, for the first time, demonstrated the bilateral corneal nerve reduction in the patients with unilateral PSS. However, the exact mechanisms involved in corneal nerve degeneration in eyes with PSS were not well characterized. The possible cause of PSS could be viral infection, especially cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus[24, 28]. In contrast, we postulated that PSS could be related to HLA-B27 anterior uveitis and acute attack of primary angle closure with the involvement of central Langerhans cells and keratocyte activation[8] as the CSN reduction in patients with PSS are located in the same layer of the Langerhans cells.
The bilateral nerve reduction in the patients with unilateral PSS described here could be explained by the CNS-mediated contralateral effects although we cannot exclude subclinical infection in the contralateral eyes. The nervous interdependence in different regions of human body affecting the opposite side of the unaffected structures have been described[29]. There are also well-documented events that peripheral trigeminal nerve fibers directly project to bilateral areas of brainstem nuclei and caudal medulla that affects the opposite side of the unaffected structures[30, 31]. The anatomical pathway could involve an extensive bilateral central projection sending to the contralateral peripheral Gasserian ganglion[32]. A previous study reported that the patients undergoing unilateral microincisional cataract surgery show bilateral reduction of CSN plexus at 1 month postoperatively[27]. Those findings confirm the evidence that corneal nervous interdependence between the affected and unaffected eyes. The changes in the contralateral unaffected eyes could be secondary to the affected eyes as the CSNs of unaffected eyes were higher than the affected eyes. Neuropeptides and neurotrophins, such as substance P, VIP, nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and glial cell–derived neurotrophic factor are found in the cornea with anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effect[33, 34]. The presence of contralateral corneal nerve impairment was also believed to be related to the sympathetic immune response through the local release of proinflammatory neuropeptides by afferent dysfunctional neurons[10]. Furthermore, this study demonstrated a weak positive correlation between endothelial cell density and the density of main nerve trunks in the affected eyes of the patients with unilateral PSS. The reduction of endothelial cell density could potentially be attributed to the reduction of corneal nerves, which in turn could lead to the decreased levels of neuropeptides, subsequently resulting in endothelial cell loss[35].
When we compared the recurrent and non-recurrent patients with PSS, the endothelial cell density as well as the number and density of total nerves, main nerve trunks and nerve branches of the affected eyes of the patients with recurrent PSS were significantly lower as compared to the control eyes, but the reduction was not observed in the non-recurrent patients. A Chinese study on predominant PSS reported that one fourth of the PSS eyes shows glaucomatous damage development because of repeated attacks[3]. These imply that recurrent episode could exacerbate the damage of PSS. However, a previous study indicated that corneal nerve density of 1064 μm/frame is sufficient for normal sensation[6]. This could explain why the nerve damage in PSS patients did have the clinical symptoms.
The current study has several limitations. First, there could be unnoticed changes because the range of in vivo LSCM has its own limit. Second, some morphological parameters of cornea nerves have not been evaluated, such as tortuosity. Third, the retrospective study design of this study was not able to determine if the nerve reduction and the endothelial cell loss were progressive and if there were other influencing factors, such as treatment and IOP level during each episode affecting the nerve and the endothelial cells. The follow-up visits were limited preventing us to assess the persistence or resolution of these changes over time as well as the long-term implications of the contralateral sympathetic nervous response.
In summary, our results, based on the in vivo LSCM analysis, revealed the reduction of endothelial cell density and CSNs in the affected and contralateral unaffected eyes of the patients with unilateral PSS, especially the recurrently affected eyes. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to document the sequential changes and to illustrate their mechanisms.