Corneal Langerhans cells during storage in 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 on down-regulation of the HLA-DR antigen, or on a loss of the HLA-DR-positive corneal Langerhans cells (LCs). Material and methods: Corneal LCs were stained in situ by the method of fluorescence-associated immunohistochemistry, and the organ culture mediums underwent flow cytometric analysis for HLA-DR-positive corneal LC at the end of the storage period. Results: All stored corneas were negative for HLA-DR after 14 days and HLA-DR antigens could be detected in culture medium at the end of the storage time. Conclusion: Flow cytometry showed that organ culture storage leads to loss of HLA-DR-positive cells and not only to a loss of antigen presentation.