Periductal Area as the Primary Site for T-Cell Activation in Lacrimal Gland Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Abstract

The results strongly suggest that CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in the lacrimal glands of patients with cGVHD are primarily activated in the periductal area through antigenic stimulation by potent antigen-presenting cells and stromal fibroblasts, and exert various effector functions, including cytotoxic effects on glandular epithelial cells.