Experimental melanin-protein-induced uveitis in the Lewis rat. Immunopathologic processes.
OBJECTIVE
To study the immunopathology of experimental melanin-protein-induced uveitis in the Lewis rat.


METHODS
Rats were immunized with bovine ocular melanin protein. The kinetics of experimental melanin-protein-induced uveitis was studied by clinical examination and immunopathology. Cellular and humoral responses were evaluated by lymphocyte proliferation, delayed-type hypersensitivity, and agglutination. After clinical disease subsided, recurrent experimental uveitis was induced with a low-dose footpad injection of lipopolysaccharide.


RESULTS
Experimental melanin-protein-induced uveitis was characterized by bilateral uveal infiltration mainly with lymphocytes and monocytes. Delayed-type hypersensitivity, lymphocyte proliferation, and agglutination to bovine ocular melanin protein were positive. Expressions of major histocompatibility complex class II and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 were observed before ocular infiltration. The predominantly infiltrating cells were CD4+ lymphocytes. Experimental melanin-protein-induced uveitis subsided within 1 month, spontaneously recurred within 1 week in approximately one quarter of the rats, and was inducible in most rats with 5 micrograms of lipopolysaccharide confirmed by histopathology.


CONCLUSIONS
Experimental melanin-protein-induced uveitis is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune uveitis, resembling noninfectious recurrent iridocyclitis and choroiditis in humans.
Chan
C C
CC
Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Hikita
N
N
Dastgheib
K
K
Whitcup
S M
SM
Gery
I
I
Nussenblatt
R B
RB
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005260:Female; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008543:Melanins; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012008:Recurrence; D014605:Uveitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D005136:Eye Proteins; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D008543:Melanins