title: The autoimmune diseases of the eyes.
abstract: The eye is divided anatomically in three layers: an outer or fibrous layer (cornea/sclera), middle or vascular layer (uvea - iris, ciliary body, and choroid) and an inner or sensorineural layer (retina). They compose the several anatomic and functional layers that enable the immune protection of the eye. The first layer involves an intact anatomic border with the blood-ocular barrier and immunosuppressive neuropeptides in the native aqueous humor. The second layer trusts on the capability of the eye to reestablish an immunosuppressive micro-environment by activating latent TGF-β and reestablishing the anterior chamber-associated immune deviation. The third layer involves a mechanism that is not yet completely recognized, but that has the ability to overcome a predominantly Th1 intraocular immune response and to reestablish anterior chamber-associated immune deviation. Understanding the comprehensive mechanisms of these pathways, will lead to the development of new treatments strategies in order to prevent damage to the eye from persistent or exacerbated inflammation, directed at first to pathogens, but that may develop an autoimmune reaction.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Centro Oftalmológico Botafogo - COB, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: f.a.andrade@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Francisco Assis
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmolgy Discipline, Centro de Estudos e Pesquisas Oculistas Associados - CEPOA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Savio Henrique Serafini
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Fiorot
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmolgy department, Instituto de Pesquisas Evandro Chagas - FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliezer Israel
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Benchimol
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmolgy Discipline, Centro de Estudos e Pesquisas Oculistas Associados - CEPOA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Provenzano
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Centro Oftalmológico Botafogo - COB, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa Jandre
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Discipline, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roger Abramino
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
keywords: Anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID); Blood ocular barrier; Ocular immune privilege; Pigmented epithelial cells; Retinal imaging