Cell-mediated immunity against human retinal extract, S-antigen, and interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein in onchocercal chorioretinopathy.
Autoimmune mechanisms are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of onchocercal chorioretinopathy. Cell-mediated immune responses to human retinal S-antigen, interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP), and crude retinal extract were investigated in patients with onchocerciasis from Sierra Leone, West Africa using a two-step migration-inhibition factor assay. Patients were subdivided into three groups: (1) without ocular involvement (n = 10), (2) with ocular onchocerciasis limited to the anterior segment (n = 19), and (3) with onchocercal chorioretinopathy (n = 21). A group of endemic controls (n = 25) from Sierra Leone were also studied. The cellular immune response to concanavalin A (Con A) was measured to assess the general capacity of lymphocytes to respond to a mitogen. Four of 50 (8%) patients with onchocerciasis and four of 25 (16%) endemic controls reacted with at least one retinal antigen. From the patients with onchocercal chorioretinopathy two of 21 (10%) showed a positive cellular response. The general mitogen response tested with Con A was positive in all these individuals. A role for an antiretinal autoimmune mechanism in the pathogenesis of onchocercal chorioretinopathy, as studied with human S-antigen, IRBP, or crude retinal extract, could not be shown because the cellular response to these antigens did not differ in patients with or without onchocercal chorioretinopathy or in endemic controls.
Department of Ophthalmology, Free University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Van der Lelij
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Rothova
J S
JS
Stilma
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R
Hoekzema
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A
Kijlstra
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D019393:Arrestin; D002648:Child; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015827:Onchocerciasis, Ocular / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D012160:Retina / Q000276:immunology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000276:immunology; D000099214:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Interstitial
D000941:Antigens; D019393:Arrestin; D005136:Eye Proteins; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D000099214:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Interstitial