title: A new procedure for experimental autoimmune uveitis with small uveitogenic peptides.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Demonstration of experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) with extremely small, fragmented peptides (12-30 amino acid residues) of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRPB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Very small fragmented peptides (no. 854, 888, 907, and 1057) were conjugated to heat-killed Group A Streptococcus cells and administered as a single intravenous injection to Lewis rats. A non-uveitogenic peptide 950 was also conjugated to heat-killed Streptococcus and administered. Administration of a mixture of small peptides and Streptococcus was a control for the peptides conjugated with Streptococcus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The uveitogenic peptide/Streptococcus conjugates produced uveitis inflammatory responses in the uvea, retina and pineal gland. Administration of mixtures of small peptides and Streptococcus cells, and a non-uveitogenic peptide 950 conjugated with Streptococcus did not produce autoimmune uveitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since mixtures of small uveitogenic peptides and Streptococcal cells did not develop autoimmune uveitis, conjugated Streptococcal cells provided a vehicle for macrophage phagocytosos of very small uveitogenic IRBP peptides. Subsequent antigen presentation from macrophages to lymphocytes developed autoimmune uveitis. Peptide 888, one of four IRBP peptides that encompass the major uveitogenic domain, proved to be the most effective in development of uveitis.
authors.affiliation: Research Division, and Pathology Service, Wills Eye Hospital and Thomas Jefferson University, 840 Walniut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. twsery@comcast.net
authors.forename: Theodore W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Sery
authors.forename: Ying-Hsiu
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eagle
authors.forename: Masumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Nobuto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000633:toxicity*; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D023421:Models, Animal; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology*; D014602:Uvea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000099214:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Interstitial
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D000099214:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Interstitial