Allergic conjunctivitis is mediated by eosinophilic infiltration and Th2 type immune responses. This study aims to elucidate the role of rapamycin, mTOR inhibitor, on OVA-induced experimental allergic conjunctivitis (EAC). Rapamycin administration intraperitoneally markedly reduced clinical signs, total and OVA-specific IgE and IgG1/G2a ratio in serum, and conjunctival eosinophilic infiltration. Infiltrations of CD11c⁺ dendritic cells and CD4⁺ T cells, and the expressions of chemokines and adhesion molecules in the conjunctiva were attenuated in rapamycin-treated mice, as well as decreased Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the cervical lymph nodes compared to non-treated mice. The expression of mTOR signaling proteins was increased in EAC and reduced by rapamycin treatment. Topical application of rapamycin was also proved to show reduced clinical signs, eosinophil infiltration, and Th2 type immune responses comparable to those from intraperitoneal injection of rapamycin. These findings suggest the therapeutic implications of rapamycin in the attenuation of allergic conjunctivitis.

变应性结膜炎是由嗜酸细胞浸润和Th2型免疫反应介导的。这项研究旨在阐明雷帕霉素mTOR抑制剂在OVA引起的实验性变应性结膜炎（EAC）中的作用。雷帕霉素腹膜内给药显着降低了临床体征，血清中总和OVA特异性IgE和IgG1 / G2a的比率以及结膜嗜酸性粒细胞浸润。CD11c ⁺树突状细胞和CD4 ^+的浸润与未治疗的小鼠相比，雷帕霉素治疗的小鼠的T细胞以及结膜中趋化因子和粘附分子的表达减弱，宫颈淋巴结中的Th1和Th2细胞因子减少。在EAC中，mTOR信号蛋白的表达增加，而雷帕霉素处理则使mTOR信号蛋白的表达减少。雷帕霉素的局部应用也被证明与腹膜内注射雷帕霉素相比具有减少的临床体征，嗜酸性粒细胞浸润和Th2型免疫反应。这些发现表明雷帕霉素在减轻变应性结膜炎中的治疗意义。