Expression of B7 Molecules and Tlr-9 on Corneal Epithelial Cells Infected with Adenovirus: Clinico-pathological Implications in Viral Keratoconjunctivitis Expresión De Moléculas B7 Y Tlr:9 En Células Epiteliales Corneales Infectadas Con Adenovirus: Implicaciones Clínico-patológicas En La Queratoconjuntivitis Viral

Purpose: B7 molecules are a family of proteins that co-stimulate T cells during immune activation. Normally the corneal epithelial cells (CEC) do not express these molecules on their cell surface. Tolllike receptors play an important role in the innate immune response to invading pathogens and recently have been demonstrated to be expressed on mice cornea. The objective of this study was to determine whether adenoviral infection induces B7 molecules and TLR9 on human CEC. Methods: CEC were isolated from human corneas treated with dispase-II, and grown in the presence of supplemented hormonal epithelial medium until confluence. Then CEC were then infected with adenovirus 5 (Ad5) and cultured for different times. ORIGINAL ARTICLE