Regulatory T cells and immune tolerance
nobel prize to corneal immune privilege
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70313/2718.7446.v18.n4.473Keywords:
nobel, ophthalmology, cornea, eyes, immune systemAbstract
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, awarded to Shimon Sakaguchi, Mary Brunkow, and Fred Ramsdell, recognizes fundamental discoveries in peripheral immune tolerance and the central role of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Although originally framed within systemic immunology, these findings hold particular relevance for ophthalmology, where immune balance is essential to preserving vision. The cornea represents a unique model of immune privilege, sustained by anatomical barriers, local immunomodulatory factors, and the action of tissue-resident Tregs that limit inflammation. In corneal transplantation, the presence or dysfunction of these cells directly influences graft acceptance or rejection, suggesting future therapeutic avenues based on FOXP3 modulation or targeted Treg expansion to promote localized tolerance without systemic immunosuppression.
Moreover, the knowledge derived from these Nobel laureates reframes the understanding of multiple ocular disorders —from autoimmune diseases of the ocular surface to allergic conjunctivitis, conjunctival tumors, and uveitic processes— through the lens of finely tuned immune regulation. Collectively, the advances recognized by the Nobel Prize highlight the eye, and particularly the cornea, as a living microenvironment where peripheral tolerance is expressed in its most refined form, offering new conceptual and therapeutic perspectives for ophthalmic practice.
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