title: Effects of bucillamine and antigen-presenting cells in experimental autoimmune uveitis in rats.
abstract: Bucillamine, an anti-rheumatic drug, was compared with cyclosporine (CYA) in its effects on the antigen-presentation activity of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and the antigen-specific proliferation of T cells from S-antigen-immunized rats. In vitro assay showed that bucillamine did not affect the proliferative response of T cells, but suppressed the antigen-presenting activity of APCs, such as macrophages and retinal pigment epithelial cells. On the other hand, CYA suppressed both T cell proliferation and the antigen-presenting activity of macrophages. However, the doses of CYA required to produce significant suppression of antigen presentation were higher than those needed to inhibit T cell proliferation. Daily systemic administration of bucillamine for 14 days after immunizing rats with S-antigen suppressed the intensity of experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) and the antigen-presenting activity of macrophages in treated rats, but not the antigen-specific proliferation of the T cells. EAU intensity was completely suppressed by CYA for 14 days post-immunization, and antigen-specific proliferation of T cells was suppressed, but the antigen-presenting activity of macrophages was not affected. These results suggested that the suppressive effects of bucillamine on the antigen-presenting activity of APCs contributed to its suppressive effects on EAU; whereas, the suppressive effects of CYA on EAU resulted principally from its suppression of the T-cell function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology*; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019393:Arrestin; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D019393:Arrestin; D016572:Cyclosporine; D003545:Cysteine; C026535:bucillamine