人眼具有独特的免疫结构和行为。虽然已知结膜具有明确的淋巴引流系统,角膜,巩膜,和葡萄膜组织在历史上被认为是“淋巴组织”,并被认为是免疫特权。水性流出通道沿着流出路径携带透明流体(房水)的事实使得难以忽视其淋巴样特征。新型淋巴谱系标记的开发以及这些标记在水性流出通道中的表达以及改善的成像能力引起了人们对眼淋巴管研究的新兴趣。在过去的十年中,眼科淋巴研究发生了方向性变化,提供了一个令人兴奋的新的生理平台,需要进一步深入了解。在人睫状体中存在不同的淋巴通道的证据正在获得显著的牵引力。葡萄膜淋巴途径是房水流出的替代新途径,为青光眼的病理生理学和管理增加了新的维度。开发新的动物模型,标记,描绘核心解剖结构和生理功能的非侵入性成像工具可能有助于为了解疾病病理生理学铺平一些关键途径,并有助于开发新的青光眼靶向治疗方法。
The human eye has a unique immune architecture and behavior. While the conjunctiva is known to have a well-defined lymphatic drainage system, the cornea, sclera, and uveal tissues were historically considered \"alymphatic\" and thought to be immune privileged. The very fact that the aqueous outflow channels carry a clear fluid (aqueous humor) along the outflow pathway makes it hard to ignore its lymphatic-like characteristics. The development of novel lymphatic lineage markers and expression of these markers in aqueous outflow channels and improved imaging capabilities has sparked a renewed interest in the study of ocular lymphatics. Ophthalmic lymphatic research has had a directional shift over the last decade, offering an exciting new physiological platform that needs further in-depth understanding. The evidence of a presence of distinct lymphatic channels in the human ciliary body is gaining significant traction. The uveolymphatic pathway is an alternative new route for aqueous outflow and adds a new dimension to pathophysiology and management of glaucoma. Developing novel animal models, markers, and non-invasive imaging tools to delineate the core anatomical structure and physiological functions may help pave some crucial pathways to understand disease pathophysiology and help develop novel targeted therapeutic approaches for glaucoma.