Experimental Autoimmune Uveoretinitis in the Rat and Mouse

Abstract

Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) in rats and mice is a prototypic T cell-mediated autoimmune disease that targets the neural retina and related tissues. The model is used to represent human sight-threatening inflammatory eye diseases that are believed to have an autoimmune etiology, and to study basic mechanisms of tolerance and autoimmunity to organ-specific antigens from immunologically privileged sites. In this unit, EAU is induced in rats and mice by immunization with uveitogenic peptide antigens emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Clinical onset is observed by both external and microscopic examination. A protocol is provided for preparation of tissue sections of affected eyes for microscopic analysis. EAU can also be induced in the rat (as described) by adoptive transfer of lymphocytes from uveitic rats into unimmunized recipients, which obviates the use of CFA. To induce EAU in mice, Bordetella pertussis toxin (PTX) is included to overcome immunological resistance mechanisms.

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells precondition lung monocytes/macrophages to produce tolerance against allo- and autoimmunity in the eye

“…In parallel, we tested whether hMSC pretreatment would be effective in preventing autoimmunity. For this purpose, we used a mouse model of EAU, a well-established model for human autoimmune intraocular inflammation (15). We injected 1 × 10 6 hMSCs, 1 × 10 6 Fibro, or the vehicle (HBSS) into the tail vein of C57BL/6 mice at days −7 and −3 before EAU induction.…”

The effect of mesenchymal stem cells on dynamic changes of T cell subsets in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis

“…The incidence and severity of EAU were scored in a masked fashion on a scale of 0-4, according to the criteria reported by Caspi's group [18]. For histology, animals were killed on days 6, 9, 12, 15 and 20 in the preventive group and on days 15 and 20 in the therapeutic group.…”

“…The presence of disease was evaluated in a doubleblinded fashion by examining four sections at different levels in each eye. Severity of EAU was scored on a scale of 0-4, according to Caspi's criteria [18].…”

Prevention of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis by blockade of osteopontin with small interfering RNA

“…EAU induced with immunization of retinal Ag now represents not only Th1 but also Th17-cell-mediated ocular diseases. A massive inflammatory infiltration composed primarily of mononuclear cells causes a rapid and irreversible destruction of photoreceptor cells (Jiang et al 1999;Silver et al 1999;Caspi 2003;Amadi-Obi et al 2007;Luger et al 2008). It has been demonstrated that the augmentation of the Th2 response and T regulatory cytokine production and down-regulation of the Th1 response can mitigate inflammation and protect against the development of EAU (Saoudi et al 1993;Kezuka et al 1996;Caspi 2002).…”