title: Rat models of autoimmune uveitis.
abstract: Experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) in Lewis rats is a well-established model for human uveitis. During the last years we used this model to demonstrate extraocular induction of uveitis by antigenic mimicry of environmental antigens with retinal autoantigen and investigated the migration and intraocular reactivation of autoreactive green fluorescent protein (GFP)+ T cells. We could also elaborate several differences between EAU induced with S-antigen peptide PDSAg or R14, a peptide derived from interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein, suggesting two differently regulated diseases in the same rat strain. R14-mediated EAU in Lewis rats has been shown to relapse, thus we have a new model to test therapeutic approaches in an ongoing immune response instead of just preventing disease. Finally, we show antigenic mimicry of PDSAg and an HLA-B peptide for oral tolerance induction. After the successful first therapeutic trial this approach will now proceed with international multicenter clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Section of Immunobiology, Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Center of the University of Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. Gerhild.Wildner@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Gerhild
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wildner
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diedrichs-Mohring
authors.forename: Stephan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Thurau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000633:toxicity; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C029248:Tolerogen