Suppression of actively induced experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis by CD4+ T cells.
BACKGROUND
Helper/inducer T cells that exert an inhibitory effect on disease induction have been recently found in many experimental models. In order to clarify the mechanisms of spontaneous remission of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU), we investigated the inhibitory effect and the phenotype of the post-recovery suppressor cells.


METHODS
In a series of experiments, we separated spleen cells of rats that had recovered from EAU. Three groups of spleen cells, CD4+ T, CD8+ T and B cells, were each adoptively transferred into naive syngeneic rats before active immunization with retinal soluble antigen (S-Ag) and Freund's complete adjuvant or passive immunization with uveitogenic T cells from donor rats. Inflammation was examined clinically and histologically.


RESULTS
The development of EAU could be significantly prevented by adoptive transfer of CD4+ T cells, whereas CD8+ T cells could not suppress the onset. However, post-recovery CD4+ T cells failed to inhibit EAU induced by passive immunization with uveitogenic T cells.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that CD4+ post-recovery (suppressor) T cells may play an important role in the remission of EAU.
Uchio
E
E
Department of Ophthalmology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Japan.
Kijima
M
M
Ishioka
M
M
Tanaka
S
S
Ohno
S
S
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000473:pathology; D019393:Arrestin; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000473:pathology; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D007498:Iris / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D012173:Retinitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology
D019393:Arrestin