Fas expression and apoptosis in rats with experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate Fas expression on CD4 and CD8 T cells in each organ at each stage of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) and apoptotic cells within EAU eyes.


METHODS
Rats were immunized with the uveitopathogenic peptide derived from interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein. Flow cytometry was performed in ocular cells, draining lymph nodes cells and splenic cells of EAU rats to investigate Fas expression by CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling staining of apoptotic nuclei was performed on sections of EAU eyes.


RESULTS
Fas expression by both ocular and splenic CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes was significantly higher than in lymph nodes at each stage. In EAU eyes, there was a relatively large population of lymphocytes with Fas expression (19.6-25.6% of CD4 and 33.2-53.4% of CD8). Apoptotic cells were more prominent in the EAU eyes with established disease than in those with early or resolving disease.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the relatively large population of lymphocytes with Fas expression in EAU eyes reflects the activation of lymphocytes in these eyes, and that the increase in apoptotic inflammatory cells at the peak of established disease may participate in the spontaneous disappearance of EAU.
Abe
T
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita City, Japan.
Nakajima
A
A
Satoh
N
N
Sakuragi
S
S
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008198:Lymph Nodes; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012173:Retinitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000633:toxicity; D013154:Spleen; D014605:Uveitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000099214:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Interstitial
D005136:Eye Proteins; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D019014:fas Receptor; D000099214:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Interstitial