大鼠自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎辅助T细胞的类细胞因子水平表达

目的观察实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎（experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis，EAU）大鼠血清以及脾细胞培养上清液中辅助T细胞1／辅助T细胞2（helper T cell 1／helper T cell2，Th1／Th2）类细胞因子水平。方法用Fmoc法合成光感受器间维生素A类结合蛋白R16多肽片段，联合免疫佐剂诱导EAU动物模型。在EAU高峰期取大鼠血清，分离脾细胞，培养后取上清液，应用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清以及脾细胞培养上清液中Th1类细胞因子（interferon-γ，IFN-γ、interleukin-2，IL-2）和Th2类细胞因子（IL-4、IL-10）水平。结果EAU组大鼠血清中IFN-1和IL-2的浓度分别为（33．8±5．2）μg／L，（52．5±7．9）μg/L，显著高于空白对照组[（6．2±1．4）μg/L，（3．7±0．8）μg/L和弗氏完全佐剂对照组[（complete Freund＇s adjuvant，CFA）；（9．2±1．9）μg/L，（5．1±1．1）μg/L]（P〈0．05）；而IL-4、IL-10的浓度与空白对照组和CFA组相比差异无统计学意义。EAU组大鼠脾细胞培养上清液中IFN-γ、IL-2的浓度分别为（1105．3±197．5）μg/L，（45．0±16．2）μg/L，显著高于空白对照组（5．24±1．7）μg/L，（4．1±1．3）μg/L和CFA组（25．14±5．9）μg/L，（5．1±1．9）μg/L（P〈0．01），IL4、IL-10的浓度与空白对照组和CFA组相比差异无统计学意义；CFA组大鼠脾细胞培养上清液中IFN-1的浓度明显高于空白对照组（P〈0.05），IL-2、IL-4、IL-10的浓度与空白对照组相比差异无统计学意义。结论在EAU高峰期，Th1类细胞因子水平显著升高，提示EAU是Th1细胞诱导的疾病（中国眼耳鼻喉科杂志，2008，8：280-282）     

实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎大鼠T细胞受体Vβ8.3基因的表达

目的 探讨实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎(EAU)大鼠CD4⁺T细胞抗原受体(TCR)Vβ8.3基因的表达。 方法 Lewis大鼠18只分为EAU、Freund完全佐剂及空白对照组。用Fmoc 化学合成法合成光感受器间维生素A类结合蛋白（IRBP）R16多肽片段，以诱导EAU动物模型。利用磁吸附细胞分选法(MACS)分离大鼠脾脏CD4⁺T细胞，流式细胞术检测MACS分选前后CD4⁺T细胞比例，监测细胞分选效果。通过荧光定量-聚合酶链反应法检测大鼠脾脏CD4⁺T细胞的TCR Vβ8.3基因片段的表达。 结果 IRBP R16 免疫Lewis大鼠稳定地诱导出EAU动物模型；MACS分选CD4⁺T细胞的纯度较分选前明显增高 （P＜0.001）；IRBP R16 诱导的EAU大鼠CD4⁺T细胞受体Vβ8.3基因的表达显著高于空白对照组（P＜0.05）。 结论 在IRBP R16 诱导的EAU中存在着抗原特异性T细胞受体Vβ8.3基因的优势利用，为EAU的免疫治疗提供了新的思路。 （中华眼底病杂志，2004，20：167-167）     

抗肿瘤坏死因子-α单克隆抗体治疗实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎的研究

目的 观察抗肿瘤坏死因子-α单克隆抗体（TNF-α MCAb）对于实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎（EAU）的治疗作用。方法 合成光感受器间维生素A类结合蛋白（IRBP）R16多肽片段，联合免疫佐剂诱导EAU动物模型。按照注射次数不同将大鼠分为2组，分别于IRBP R16免疫后的第6天和第4、6、8天自大鼠尾静脉注入TNF-α MCAb，裂隙灯显微镜观察其眼部临床表现，同时设未治疗组大鼠作为对照。于IRBP R16免疫后第13天测量迟发型超敏反应（DTH），并于第14天处死大鼠，取眼球行组织病理检查。应用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测抗体注射后14 d 时大鼠血清中Th1类细胞因子γ-干扰素（IFN-γ）、Th2类细胞因子白细胞介素-4（IL-4）水平以及房水中IFN-γ水平。测量引流淋巴结细胞的抗原特异性淋巴细胞增生反应。结果 TNF-αMCAb治疗组大鼠的眼部炎症较未治疗组明显减轻，病理分级下降；房水和血清中IFN-γ水平降低，血清中IL-4增高；DTH反应下降；引流淋巴结细胞对IRBP R16多肽刺激的增生反应下降，差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.01）。与单次注射相比，3次注射的治疗效果更显著（P＜0.05）。结论 TNF-αMCAb能够有效减轻EAU大鼠眼部的炎症反应和特异性细胞免疫反应，改变Th1/Th2细胞因子平衡；多次应用作用更显著。     

口服耐受对自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎影响的实验研究

目的 观察口服牛视网膜S抗原对人S抗原多肽-35诱发的实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎(EAU)的影响.设计实验性对照研究.研究对象20只雌性纯种Lewis大鼠.方法 用人S抗原多肽-35诱发EAU,提纯牛视网膜S抗原诱导口服耐受,分高剂量组(2 mg/次)和低剂量组(0.2 mg/次),同时设实验对照组(胎牛血清蛋白).主要指标EAU发病情况和脾组织白介素-4(IL-4)和γ-干扰素(IFN-γ)的表达水平.结果 口服高剂量组的Lewis大鼠的EAU发病情况较实验对照组有显著减轻(P＜0.05),而且口服高剂量组Lewis大鼠脾组织IL-4的表达水平则高于实验对照组(F=4.214,P=0.017).结论 口服高剂量牛视网膜S抗原诱导的免疫耐受町以成功抑制人S抗原多肽-35诱发的实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎.(眼科,2008,17:250-253)     

CD4＋CD25＋T细胞在实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎中的作用

背景实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎（EAU）已被证明是一种由T淋巴细胞介导的器官特异性自限性疾病。研究表明 CD4＋CD25＋T细胞可能参与了EAu的调控,但其作用机制尚有待研究。目的探讨EAU中 CD4＋CD25＋T细胞的表达变化。方法按照Caspi的方法提纯牛视网膜S抗原,与弗氏完全佐剂混合后,于24只Lewis大鼠右后足底部注射0．1ml制作EAU模型,4只未处理大鼠作为正常对照组。免疫后每日州裂隙灯显微镜观察大鼠眼部变化。造模后7、12、15、21d处死动物,取大鼠视网膜、引流淋巴结、脾脏,对大鼠眼组织切片进行苏木精一伊红染色前进行病理评分。对各时间点收集的大鼠视网膜、引流淋巴结、脾脏分别制备单细胞悬液,流式细胞仪检测各时间点3种组织中 CD4＋CD25＋T细胞的表达情7兄。结果造模7d后大鼠睫状充血,虹膜血管扩张;15d后炎症达高峰,前房大量炎性渗出;21d后炎症消退。眼部病理评分结果与临床所见一致,造模15d组病理评分与其他各组比较差异均有统计学意义（P=0．000）。正常对照组大鼠脾脏和淋巴结中有2．0％CD4＋T细胞表达CD25,造模组 CD4＋CD25＋T细胞表达增加,亓在EAU高峰期达最高,EAU消退期轻微下降,与正常对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P=0．000）。结论 CD4＋CD25＋T细胞在EAU动物模型炎症组织中表达的动态变化与炎症反应有关,提示 CD4＋CD25＋T细胞参与EAU的发生发展和消退过程。     

TGF-β2玻璃体腔注射对EAU大鼠Foxp3表达的调控作用

目的:利用RT-PCR的方法检测EAU时Lewis大鼠视网膜和葡萄膜Foxp3的mRNA表达情况,探讨EAU时转录因子Foxp3的变化及TGF-β2对其的诱导调控作用,为研究葡萄膜炎的病变机制提供理论支持,为临床治疗葡萄膜炎探索新方向。方法:将IRBPR16多肽注入Lewis大鼠左后足底部制备EAU动物模型。按照随机数字表法将36只Lewis大鼠分为正常对照组、EAU未治疗组和EAUTGF-β2治疗组。TGF-β2治疗组于EAU动物模型制备后第1,4,7,10,13,16,19d给予TGF-β210μL(浓度为5mg/L)玻璃体内注射治疗。分别于IRBP免疫后7,10,14,21d处死Lewis大鼠,刮取视网膜和葡萄膜,利用RT-PCR法检测Foxp3的表达,所得数据应用SPSS10.0统计分析软件进行处理。结果:随着EAU病程的进展,Foxp3的表达逐渐增加,但同正常对照组相比,差异不显著,各时间组之间差异不显著。随着EAU病程的进展,TGF-β2治疗组7dFoxp3的表达增加,同正常对照组和未治疗组相比无显著差异。TGF-β2治疗组10,14,21d Foxp3的表达增加,同正常对照组相比有显著差异(P<0.01),同TGF-β2未治疗组相比Foxp3的表达增加,差异显著(P<0.05)。结论:探讨Foxp3在EAU疾病过程中的表达变化,为进一步研究Foxp3在EAU中的作用机制提供了理论支持。研究了TGF-β2在EAU病程中对Foxp3的表达调控,发现TGF-β2能够增加Foxp3的表达,从而调控Treg细胞,启动免疫抑制功能,为临床治疗葡萄膜炎开辟新方向。     

雷帕霉素对大鼠实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜炎的治疗作用

背景雷帕霉素不仅具有抗菌作用,而且是一种良好的免疫抑制剂,可用于多种自身免疫性疾病的治疗．对实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜炎（EAU）的治疗作用是目前研究的热点之一。目的研究雷帕霉素对EAU的治疗作用,并观察雷帕霉素对EAU各免疫细胞群炎性因子表达的影响。方法25只Lewis大鼠采用随机数字表法分为EAU组（20只）和正常对照组（5只）。光感受器间维生素A类结合蛋白（IRBP）R16肽段与完全氟氏佐剂充分乳化后于Lewis大鼠后足皮下注射以建立EAU模型,EAU模型鼠再按分层随机的原则分为模型对照组和雷帕霉素组,每组10只大鼠。雷帕霉素组造模后即应用O．2mg／（kg·d）雷帕霉素（0．4m1）腹腔内连续注射7d,模型对照组及正常对照组大鼠采用等体积的生理盐水进行腹腔内注射。造模后第4天开始每日裂隙灯下观察大鼠EAU的症状,造模后第14天制备大鼠视网膜切片,以苏木精-伊红染色法进行组织病理学观察,参照Caspi的标准对EAU症状及组织病理学分级进行评分。应用免疫组织化学染色法检测各组大鼠视网膜中炎性因子干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）、白细胞介素-17（IL-17）的表达情况。结果造模后6d模型对照组大鼠EAU炎症评分逐渐升高,12d达到高峰,然后逐渐下降。雷帕霉素组大鼠EAU炎症评分变化呈现相同的趋势,但各时间点EAU炎症评分均明显低于模型对照组,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。视网膜组织病理学研究表明,模型对照组大鼠视网膜结构紊乱,大量炎性细胞浸润,组织病理学评分为3．30±0．48,而雷帕霉素组视网膜结构接近正常,组织学评分为0．90±0．45,差异有统计学意义（t=16．541,P〈0．01）。雷帕霉素组IFN-γ、IL-17在大鼠视网膜中的表达量（A值）分别为21．16±4．23和49．86±6．59,明显低于模型对照组的62．14±7．32和124．85±6．33,差异均有统计学意义（q=33．334、q=56．923,P〈0．01）。结论雷帕霉素通过抑制EAU视网膜中IFN-γ、IL-17等炎性因子的表达而对EAU发挥治疗作用,其机制可能是通过抑制Th1、Th17细胞群来实现的。     

大鼠的实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎的免疫致病机理

为了了解实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎(EAU)免疫致病机理,用Lewis鼠研究T淋巴细胞和肥大细胞的作用。用致敏的淋巴细胞特别是辅助性/诱异性T细胞亚群成功地转移给首次用来作实验的同系大鼠。接受了对S抗原致敏了的辅助性/诱导性T细胞的实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎(EAU)的大鼠充分表现了对此抗原的迟发型皮肤超敏反应但极轻微的Arthus反应。分析了环孢霉素、环磷酰胺,地塞米松等免疫抑制剂药物对S抗原免疫的鼠产生EAU的作用。通过选择性抑制对S抗原的迟发型皮肤超敏反应,说明仅有环孢霉素能完全抑制EAU的发生。这些资料说明T淋巴细胞在EAU致病机理中起主要的作用。根据在疾病发作以前,脉络膜的肥大细胞发生脱颗粒作用,说明除了淋巴细胞参与以外,脉络膜的肥大细胞也起了附带作用。     

经鼻黏膜诱导免疫耐受治疗实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜炎

目的探讨经鼻腔滴注牛视网膜S抗原诱导免疫耐受对Lewis大鼠自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎(EAU)的影响。方法利用盐析和离子交换层析方法纯化牛视网膜S抗原,然后用其诱导Lewis大鼠鼻黏膜耐受,再用视网膜S抗原诱发EAU,观察EAU的发病情况、眼部临床表现、组织学改变、皮肤迟发型超敏反应、由视网膜S抗原和刀豆蛋白A刺激的淋巴细胞增殖反应,同时观察环磷酰胺对免疫耐受的影响。结果用牛视网膜S抗原鼻腔滴注诱导免疫耐受后再诱导EAU,耐受组8只大鼠仅有2只发病(25%),对照组6只(100%)全部发病,耐受组大鼠发病比例明显低于对照组(P=0·0097)。耐受组大鼠的发病开始时间平均为16·5d,对照组为10·3d,两者之间差异有统计学意义(F=26·32,P=0·000;q=9·723,P<0·01);耐受组大鼠EAU病变的临床评分为0·89,对照组为3·94,差异有统计学意义(F=12·48,P=0·000;q=7·904,P<0·01);耐受组大鼠的组织学分级为1·21,对照组为4·12,差异有统计学意义(F=11·80,P=0·000;q=7·510,P<0·01)。耐受组大鼠的EAU表现为虹膜血管轻度扩张,前房和玻璃体内少量炎性渗出,视网膜轻度肿胀,视网膜感光细胞损害均较轻。耐受组大鼠的皮肤迟发型超敏反应和由视网膜S抗原刺激的淋巴细胞增殖反应也明显轻于对照组;腹腔注射环磷酰胺可轻度增强S抗原诱导的免疫耐受作用,仅用环磷酰胺对EAU的炎性反应无明显影响。结论视网膜S抗原诱导的黏膜耐受可有效地预防由视网膜S抗原诱发的EAU。     

IRBP免疫鼠血清特异性抗体的测定及动态变化

我们首次在国内提纯了光感受器间维生素 A类结合蛋白(interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein,IRBP),将其免疫 Lewis 大鼠后动态测定了鼠血清抗IRBP 抗体和抗视网膜 S 抗原抗体.发现抗 IRBP 抗体于免疫后第7天出现,以后逐渐上升,于第26天达高峰,未测出抗 S 抗原抗体.根据特异性抗体与实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎(experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis,EAU)之间的关系,讨论了特异性体液免疫反应在 EAU发生中的作用.     

Evaluation of in vivo cytokine expression in EAU-susceptible and resistant rats: a role for IL-10 in resistance?

Messenger RNAs for six cytokines (IL-12p40, IFN-gamma, IL-10, IL-4, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1) expressed in vivo during development of experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) were quantitated by PCR in (uncultured) peripheral lymphoid cells and in the eyes of EAU-susceptible Lewis and EAU resistant F344 rats. Disease was induced by immunization with the R16 peptide of IRBP (in RT1B haplotype rats) or with whole IRBP (in all haplotypes). In the periphery, both Lewis and F 344 expressed similar cytokine patterns. In ocular tissues, however, only Lewis expressed elevated type 1 and inflammatory cytokines (IL-12p40, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha), coincident with onset and peak of disease. Interestingly, naive F344 rats expressed higher basal levels of IL-10 mRNA in the eyes. To examine the possible involvement of this phenomenon in resistance, basal levels of IL-10 vs susceptibility to IRBP were compared in Lewis, BN, DA. F344 and ACI strains. Lewis, BN and DA were susceptible and had low levels of IL-10 mRNA in eyes. F344 and ACI were resistant and expressed high basal levels of IL-10 mRNA. In an in vitro study, recombinant rat IL-10 (but not human or mouse IL-10) suppressed lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-gamma production by primed lymph node cells of R16 immunized rats, but did not suppress uveitogenic long-term T-cell lines polarized to the Thl phenotype, suggesting that mature effector lymphocytes in the rat may lose their ability to be suppressed by IL-10. We propose that higher expression of the IL-10 gene in ocular tissues in some rat strains may represent a mechanism that contributes to a higher threshold of resistance to EAU, but this threshold may be overcome by a more mature Thl effector with a reduced sensitivity to IL-10.     

实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜炎大鼠的发病特点

背景 Lewis大鼠是建立实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜炎（EAU）动物模型的常用种系,对其发病特点,尤其是EAU大鼠眼部超微结构改变的研究尚未见报道. 目的 观察EAU大鼠的发病体征及其眼部超微结构的改变. 方法 选取SPF级6～8周龄雌性Lewis大鼠18只,采用随机数字表法随机分为对照组6只和模型组12只.模型组大鼠后肢足底、两侧腹壁和躯干上皮下各注射含有光感受器间维生素A类结合蛋白（IRBP,1177-1191）和结核菌素（TB）的完全弗氏佐剂（CFA）乳化液,对照组大鼠不作处理.注射后观察两组大鼠饮食、体温和活动情况,每天裂隙灯显微镜下观察大鼠眼部炎症表现,于免疫后12d获取大鼠眼组织标本,对虹膜、睫状体和视网膜进行常规组织病理学检查,并分别在扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜下观察虹膜、睫状体和视网膜的超微结构改变.结果 模型组大鼠免疫后采食量为（190.00± 18.03）g,明显少于对照组的（285.33±28.02）g,差异有统计学意义（t=4.955,P=0.012）;模型组和对照组大鼠的饮水量分别为（241.67±18.56）ml和（289.67±18.18）ml,差异有统计学意义（t=3.201,P=0.033）;模型组大鼠体温升高,精神倦怠.裂隙灯显微镜下观察发现,模型组大鼠免疫后6d出现虹膜充血、前房积脓和瞳孔膜闭,免疫后12d眼部炎症最严重,炎症评分为（3.83±0.41）分,而对照组大鼠眼前节未见异常.组织病理学检查发现,模型组大鼠前房、虹膜、睫状体组织和玻璃体腔内均可见大量淋巴细胞、中性粒细胞和单核巨噬细胞浸润.扫描电子显微镜下可见模型组大鼠虹膜肌纤维粗细不均,睫状体上皮表面粗糙及RPE细胞绒毛疏松.透射电子显微镜下观察可见,模型组大鼠虹膜单核巨噬细胞浸润,睫状体上皮细胞膜褶皱蓬松及排列紊乱,视网膜Müller细胞中有髓样小体,RPE细胞中有线粒体空泡出现,而对照组大鼠虹膜、睫状体及     

视网膜抗原免疫联合内毒素诱导的新的EAU小鼠模型

背景 葡萄膜炎的发病机制和治疗仍是目前的研究热点,但多年来该领域的基础研究仍是沿用传统的造模方法制备相关的动物模型,与人类的葡萄膜炎自然病程有较大偏差. 目的 本研究用大肠杆菌内毒素,即脂多糖（LPS）替代百日咳毒素（PTX）作为主要诱发因素,建立更符合人类自然发病环境的新型实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜视网膜炎（EAU）的动物模型,并与传统的造模方法进行比较,为研究该病的发病机制和有效的治疗方案提供实验依据.方法 6～8周龄的无特定病原体级雌性C57BL/6（H-2b）小鼠20只,按随机数字表法分为正常对照组、单纯内毒素注射组（EIU组）、多肽＋完全弗氏佐剂（CFA）注射组（EAU组）、多肽＋CFA＋LPS组（LPS-EAU组）.LPS-EAU组先用人类光感受器间维生素A类结合蛋白（IRBP 1-20）＋CFA免疫小鼠,免疫后第7天小鼠足底注射LPS,诱发小鼠EAU模型.采用组织病理学损害、眼球组织病理学评分、迟发型过敏反应、特异性淋巴细胞增生反应等评价指标对动物模型进行鉴定,并与LPS诱导的EIU及IRBP 1-20＋ CFA免疫诱导的EAU进行比较.结果 正常对照组小鼠虹膜睫状体及视网膜组织结构未见异常;EIU组小鼠虹膜睫状体可见轻微血管扩张、蛋白及纤维素渗出,但玻璃体和视网膜组织内未见血管异常及炎症反应;EAU组小鼠虹膜睫状体未见血管扩张及炎性渗出,但可见视网膜轻微血管周围炎及神经纤维层肿胀;LPS-EAU组小鼠视网膜结构紊乱,可见较多的炎性细胞浸润、光感受器细胞损伤及视网膜全层破坏.正常对照组小鼠和EIU组小鼠病理评分均为0分,EAU组病理评分为0.5分,而LPS-EAU组小鼠病理评分为3.0分,显著高于EAU组,差异有统计学意义（U=16.246,P=0.001）.LPS-EAU组小鼠耳廓增厚值为（35.60±0.55） tm,显著高于EIU组小鼠的（12.60±0.55）μm,差异均有统计学意义（q=23.003,P＜0.01）;但与EAU组小鼠的（34.80±0.84）μm比较,差异无统计学意义（q=0.820,P＞0.05）.LPS-EAU组小鼠的脾细胞体外培养的克隆数显著增加,其3 HTdR掺入值（CPM）为（8 540.00±54.77）/min,而EAU组的cpm为（8 484.00±47.75）/min,差异无统计学意义（q=56.634,P=0.069）,但与EIU组的cpm（2 050.00±50.00）/min比较,LPS-EAU组明显升高,差异有统计学意义（q=195.683,P=0.000）. 结论 LPS可以成功诱发小鼠的EAU,该动物模型在模拟病因方面更符合人类自然发病环境,为研究人类EAU的病因和发病机制提供了一个可能更好的动物模型.     

Alternative routes of immunization for the induction of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) in rodents: a comparison

Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) in rodents is a widely used model of ocular autoimmunity. EAU has traditionally been elicited by injecting the uveitogenic protein in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the footpad(s) (FP). Because this route of immunization causes severe arthritis and inflammation, it is being banned by many institutions and investigators are switching to the subcutaneous (SC) route. However, there are no studies that systematically compare the outcome of these two immunization routes using defined clinical, histopathological and immunological criteria. We therefore undertook to compare the FP and SC routes of immunization in the Lewis rat and in the B 10. A mouse models of EAU. Animals were immunized with interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) or the retinal soluble antigen (S-Ag) in CFA, either by the traditional FP route or by the SC route. The parameters studied were kinetics and severity of EAU by clinical observation and by histopathology, respectively, as well as immunological responses by delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), serum antibody titers and lymphocyte proliferation to the uveitogen. In mice immunized with graded doses of IRBP, development of disease induced by the FP and SC methods had essentially identical kinetics. However, the SC method resulted in a somewhat higher incidence and severity of disease as well as higher DTH at the lower antigen doses. Antibody titers tended to be higher with FP immunization. In rats immunized with S-Ag, kinetics and severity of disease, DTH, proliferative responses of draining lymph node cells to the immunizing antigen, and serum antibody titers induced by FP and SC methods were similar. In rats immunized with IRBP, SC immunization resulted in somewhat higher responses across the board than FP. We conclude that at higher doses of antigen disease scores and immunological responses in animals immunized SC are comparable to those of FP-immunized animals. At limiting doses of antigen, however, the SC route appears to result in more severe disease than the traditional FP method.     

Differentiation of Th1 and Th2 cells in lymph nodes and spleens of mice during experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis

PURPOSE: Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease that can be elicited in susceptible rodent strains by immunization with a retinal autoantigen, such as interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). In this study, we investigated whether there is a correlation between inflammation in the eye and T-helper (Th)1- and Th2-type responses in the lymph nodes and the spleen after immunization of B10.A mice with IRBP. METHODS: B10.A mice were immunized with IRBP emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), and eyes were then enucleated for histological examination of EAU at 1, 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks after immunization. In addition, lymph node cells and spleen cells were collected, and cultured with IRBP to measure T-cell proliferation responses and Th1-type (interleukin [IL]-2, interferon [IFN]-gamma), Th2-type (IL-4, IL-10) cytokine production. RESULTS: Pathologically, severe ocular inflammation occurred 2 weeks after IRBP immunization, persisted for 2 weeks, and then gradually resolved. Interleukin-2 and IFN-gamma production were observed in draining lymph node cells at 1 and 2 weeks after IRBP immunization. Those responses then diminished, whereas IFN-gamma production by spleen cells was observed from week 1, peaked at week 4, and gradually decreased. Alternatively, significant production of IL-4 or IL-10 by draining lymph node cells was not detected at any time point. Both IL-4 and IL-10 production by spleen cells was observed at week 6. CONCLUSIONS: Th1-type responses were observed early in draining lymph nodes, then in the spleen after IRBP immunization. The levels of IFN-gamma production by spleen cells reflected the severity of EAU, confirming their pathogenic role in this disease. Th2-type responses were generated in the spleen only as the disease receded, suggesting a role for Th2 cells in the spontaneous termination of EAU.     

Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis in brown Norway rats induced by bovine interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein and renal cryosurgery

In Brown Norway (BN) rats, it is known to be difficult to induce experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) by the injection of retinal S-antigen (S-Ag) or interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) together with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), unless intravenous Bordetella Pertussis is used as an additional adjuvant. In the present study it was found that the rate of onset of EAU could be increased in BN rats immunized with IRBP and CFA by simultaneous cryosurgery to the renal cortex. There was no evidence of retinal vasculitis, pinealitis or nephritis in the rats with EAU except for renal inflammatory infiltrates as a reaction to the cryosurgery. Affected eyes eventually showed destruction of most retinal components and prominent infiltration of the retina by macrophages, with the changes being more severe than those previously reported in Lewis rats with EAU induced by IRBP. Data suggesting the existence of an antibody that cross-reacts with the proximal renal tubules and the retinal pigment epithelium were also obtained.     

Serial adoptive transfer of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis in rats

Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) and pinealitis induced by an interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP)-derived peptide (R4) was serially transferred into naive recipient rats, using spleen cells from recipients of previous "orders" of transfer. The cells initiating the disease in recipients of the first order were either lymph node cells from rats immunized against peptide R4, or lymphocytes of a cell line specific toward this peptide. The serial transfer was successfully carried out through as many as four orders of sequential recipients.