Quantitative Characterization of Autoimmune Uveoretinitis in an Experimental Mouse Model

Abstract

These three indicators will be useful to detect the small but significant differences in the severity of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis for future longitudinally therapeutic studies.

Green tea catechins alleviate autoimmune symptoms and visual impairment in a murine model for human chronic intraocular inflammation by inhibiting Th17-associated pro-inflammatory gene expression

“…To quantify the EAU severity in various perspectives, RCT, major retinal vessel diameter, and visual function were measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), and ERG, respectively. The procedures were described previously 6 .…”

“…Currently, numerous important findings of basic immunological mechanisms and novel therapies in human autoimmune uveitis have been revealed by animal studies based on a mouse model of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) targeting human inter-photoreceptor retinoid binding protein (hIRBP) 3–5 . Previously, to objectively evaluate the therapeutic effects of anti-inflammatory agents in EAU mice, we developed a novel evaluation system consists of three quantitative indicators, retinal-choroidal thickness (RCT), major retinal vessel diameter and electroretinography (ERG) amplitudes 6 .…”

Quantitative Assessment of Experimental Ocular Inflammatory Disease

“…Using formal criteria, EAU can be assessed semi-quantitatively, but interobserver disagreement and subjectivity limits the usefulness of direct comparison between results from different labs and even individual researchers (21). As with human clinical graders, experience is required to achieve the highest levels of interobserver agreement (66). Employing contemporary technology has the capacity to improve on these limitations.…”

“…Pooling data from animal cohorts at selected timepoints runs the risk of obscuring subtle patterns, and overweighting the importance of the certain trends. This can be countered by the use of analysis that exploits modern image processing, with its scope for a higher degree of quantitation (66)(67)(68). A critical element of complementary analysis is therefore the use of non-invasive techniques and computational means to maximize information retrieved from the data.…”

“…Because OCT produces a depth profile of different features, it can be more sensitive than 2D fundus imaging in monitoring the appearance and development of pathological changes. In particular, cross sectional images are more sensitive to early disease because they can visualize small amounts of infiltrate around the optic nerve, and measure changes in optic nerve diameter and retinal thickness due to inflammatory oedema (23,59,66,68).…”