Immunologic insights into uveitis and retinitis: the immunoregulatory circuit.
The immune response is a complex series of cellular interactions, which is controlled by several regulatory mechanisms to insure an appropriate response. One of the most important mechanisms of control is the suppressor T cell immunoregulatory circuit. The immune response is presented in detail and examined from three different perspectives: 1) a clinical disease in which it is markedly abnormal--namely, the acquired immune deficiency syndrome or AIDS, 2) a clinical disease in which no systemic abnormality is apparent but where a local derangement in immunoregulation may be important--namely, idiopathic uveitis, and 3) a situation in which it is purposefully altered by medications for therapeutic purposes. Three drugs currently used in the treatment of uveitis--prednisone, cyclophosphamide, and cyclosporine--will be examined and compared.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012173:Retinitis / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003524:Cyclosporins; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone