TRPA1 and TPRV1 Ion Channels Are Required for Contact Lens-Induced Corneal Parainflammation and Can Modulate Levels of Resident Corneal Immune Cells

PURPOSE: Contact lens wear can induce corneal parainflammation involving CD11c+ cell responses (24 hours), γδ T cell responses (24 hours and 6 days), and IL-17-dependent Ly6G+ cell responses (6 days). Topical antibiotics blocked these CD11c+ responses. Because corneal CD11c+ responses to bacteria require transient receptor potential (TRP) ion-channels (TRPA1/TRPV1), we determined if these channels mediate lens-induced corneal parainflammation. METHODS: Wild-type mice were fitted with contact lenses for 24 hours or 6 days and compared to lens wearing TRPA1 (−/−) or TRPV1 (−/−) mice or resiniferatoxin (RTX)-treated mice. Contralateral eyes were not fitted with lenses. Corneas were examined for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II+, CD45+, γδ T, or TNF-α+ cell responses (24 hours) or Ly6G+ responses (6 days) by quantitative imaging. The quantitative PCR (qPCR) determined cytokine gene expression. RESULTS: Lens-induced increases in MHC class II+ cells after 24 hours were abrogated in TRPV1 (−/−) but not TRPA1 (−/−) mice. Increases in CD45+ cells were unaffected. Increases in γδ T cells after 24 hours of wear were abrogated in TRPA1 (−/−) and TRPV1 (−/−) mice, as were 6 day Ly6G+ cell responses. Contralateral corneas of TRPA1 (−/−) and TRPV1 (−/−) mice showed reduced MHC class II+ and γδ T cells at 24 hours. RTX inhibited lens-induced parainflammatory phenotypes (24 hours and 6 days), blocked lens-induced TNF-α and IL-18 gene expression, TNF-α+ cell infiltration (24 hours), and reduced baseline MHC class II+ cells. CONCLUSIONS: TRPA1 and TRPV1 mediate contact lens-induced corneal parainflammation after 24 hours and 6 days of wear and can modulate baseline levels of resident corneal immune cells.