Cyclosporin a. Inhibition of experimental autoimmune uveitis in Lewis rats.
Cyclosporin A (CS-A), a selective inhibitor of T lymphocytes, is reported here to prevent S antigen (S-Ag) induced uveitis in Lewis rats. The S-Ag, found in all mammalian retinas, is uveitogenic under experimental conditions and patients with certain uveitic entities demonstrate cell mediated responses to this antigen. Daily treatment with CS-A (10 mg/kg) begun on the same day as S-Ag immunization totally inhibited the development of the uveitis in this experimental autoimmune model. Moreover a greater CS-A dose (40 mg/kg) efficiently prevented the disease process when therapy was started 7 d after S-Ag immunization. Anti-S-Ag antibody titers were observed to be similar in rats either protected or not protected with CS-A. Our data support strongly the need for T cell participation in this disease model. Since ocular inflammatory disease is an important cause of visual impairment, the data further suggest that CS-A may be useful in the treatment of patients with intractable uveitis.
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D019393:Arrestin; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003524:Cyclosporins; D005260:Female; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens; D019393:Arrestin; D003524:Cyclosporins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic