[Urea soluble fraction of bovine melanin associated antigen and experimental study on its uveitogenic activity].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the uveitogenic activity of autoantigen in the bovine iris-ciliary body.


METHODS
Urea soluble fraction of boveine melanin associated antigen (USF-BMAA) was isolated from the bovine iris-ciliary body biochemically and determined by SDS-PAGE as well as amino acid analysis. Lewis rats and F344 rats were immunized with USF-BMAA emulsified with equal volume complete Freud's adjuvant and Bordetella pertussis.


RESULTS
A strongly stained protein band was observed in the USF-BMAA by SDS-PAGE whose molecular weight is approximate 64 000. Amino acid analysis of USF-BMAA showed that it contains 17 kinds of amino acids with high content of Glu, Leu and Asp. The experimental melanin associated antigen-induced uveitis (EMIU) was successfully incited in both eyes of the Lewis and F344 rats. The inflammation was mainly located in the anterior uvea, and spontaneously recovered. Mild focal choroiditis was present in the rats with severe lesion. However, the inflammation was not observed in the retina and pineal gland.


CONCLUSIONS
USF-BMAA may be the major part of autoantigen of the uveal tract with uveitogenic activity. Unlike experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) which is incited by the retinal soluble antigen (S-Ag) in the rats, no involvement of the retina and pineal gland is found in EMIU.
Gao
Zongyin
Z
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, San Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China (Email: gzy163email@163.net)
Xie
Chufang
C
Huang
Xiangkun
X
Pan
Suhua
S
Yang
Peizeng
P
Zhou
Hongyan
H
Li
Shaozhen
S
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007114:Immunization; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D007498:Iris / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D008543:Melanins / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344 / Q000276:immunology; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew / Q000276:immunology; D012995:Solubility; D014508:Urea; D014605:Uveitis / Q000276:immunology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001324:Autoantigens; D008543:Melanins; D014508:Urea