Immunopathology and altered immunity in posterior uveitis in man: a review.
Posterior uveitis is thought to be a T-cell mediated disease since active foci of inflammation, identified in eyes enucleated for the complications of intraocular inflammation, are found to be predominantly composed of CD4+ T-cells. Few B-cells and little immunoglobulin are found suggesting that antibody and immune complex deposition do not play a major role in perpetuating the inflammatory process. As ocular biopsy is not a feasible method for monitoring disease activity and response to treatment, parameters of T-cell activation and retinal damage have been studied in the peripheral blood. These have included antibody and T-cell sensitisation to retinal S-antigen, serum soluble IL-2 receptors and IL-2 receptors on activated T-cells. none of these parameters, however, have been found to be useful in the monitoring of ocular disease activity alone or in the prediction of disease relapse.
Lightman
S
S
Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK.
Towler
H
H
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D019393:Arrestin; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D015866:Uveitis, Posterior / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000941:Antigens; D019393:Arrestin; D001324:Autoantigens; D005136:Eye Proteins