Experimental uveitis induced by intravitreal or intravenous lipoteichoic acid in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of lipoteichoic acid (LTA), one of the cell wall components in gram-positive bacteria in uveitis.


METHODS
Intraocular inflammation in rabbit eyes was induced by intravitreal or intravenous injections of LTA from Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus sanguis. The inflammation was monitored progressively with the laser flare-cell photometer, and examined by periodic clinical observations. Histological examinations were performed 24 hours after administration, and aqueous protein concentrations and cell counts were also determined.


RESULTS
Intraocular inflammation appeared within 6-9 hours of LTA intravitreal injection. became maximal at about 24-48 hours postinjection, and lasted for nearly 6 days. Intraocular inflammation was also induced by intravenous injection of LTA at a higher dose. Inflammation reached a peak 4-5 hours after injection, and rapidly disappeared in 24 hours. No cellular response was observed in intravenous LTA-treated eyes.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that LTAs from gram-positive bacteria have the biological activity to induce intraocular inflammation in rabbits by intravitreal or intravenous injection. Therefore, we suggest that LTA may play a role in the pathogenesis of uveitis as one of the etiological factors.
Chen
J
J
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo School of Medicine, Japan.
Fujino
Y
Y
Takahashi
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007267:Injections; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014822:Vitreous Body
D005136:Eye Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D013682:Teichoic Acids; C009900:lipoteichoic acid