Increased Regulatory T Cells in Spleen during Experimental Autoimmune Uveoretinitis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of Foxp3-positive regulatory T cells in the development of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU).


METHODS
B10RIII mice were immunized with 50 microg IRBP(161-180) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) to induce EAU. EAU was evaluated clinically and pathologically on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Foxp3 mRNA levels were detected using reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and the frequencies of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) T cells and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells in splenocytes were assessed by flow cytometry at the aforementioned time points.


RESULTS
The first clinical signs of EAU were observed on day 8-9, worsened up to day 14, and then gradually resolved. Histopathologic results showed that inflammatory signs occurred on day 7, reached their peak on day 14, and then gradually decreased. The levels of Foxp3 mRNA and the frequencies of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) T cells and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells in splenocytes increased on day 7, reached a peak on day 14, and then maintained at a high level until day 28.


CONCLUSIONS
An upregulation of Foxp3 expression is induced in EAU and paralleled with disease activity, suggesting a role for this lymphocyte subpopulation in the regression of this experimental uveitis model.
Sun
Min
M
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P R China.
Yang
Peizeng
P
Du
Liping
L
Zhou
Hongyan
H
Ren
Xiangrong
X
Lin
Xiaomin
X
Kijlstra
Aize
A
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D012173:Retinitis / Q000276:immunology*; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000276:immunology*
D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; C508018:Il2ra protein, mouse; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; C084433:interphotoreceptor-retinoid binding protein (1158-1180)