The uveitogenic potential of retinal S-antigen in horses.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the uveitogenic potential of retinal S-antigen (S-Ag) in horses.


METHODS
Horses were immunized subcutaneously with S-Ag or BSA as control antigen, emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant. Simultaneously, Bordetella pertussis was given intravenously. Antigen specific T- and B-cell responses were analyzed in a 3-day interval. Disease development was judged clinically and histopathologically. Two identical booster immunizations were given every 4 weeks to test induction of recurrences.


RESULTS
T- and B-cell responses specific for S-Ag were observed in all immunized horses but were absent in control animals. However, uveitis developed in only one of five animals. Reimmunization with S-Ag did not lead to a uveitic relapse in this horse. All other horses of the S-Ag- and BSA-treated groups neither showed any signs of uveitis, nor had inflammatory infiltrates of the inner eye.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP), S-Ag is a weak autoantigen in horses. Even though S-Ag immunization leads to the activation of autoreactive T- and B-cells, infiltration of the inner eye and induction of uveitis are controlled in most horses.
Deeg
Cornelia A
CA
Institute for Animal Physiology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany. deeg@tiph.uni-muenchen.de
Reese
Sven
S
Gerhards
Hartmut
H
Wildner
Gerhild
G
Kaspers
Bernd
B
D000818:Animals; D019393:Arrestin / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D007114:Immunization; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
D019393:Arrestin; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D000939:Epitopes; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; C024098:6-carboxyfluorescein