Patterns of Eye-Infiltrating Cells between Chronic and Acute Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis

Objective: To characterize the cellular infiltrate of eyes in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) induced in C57BL/6 and B10.RIII strains. Methods: EAU was induced by interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein with complete Freund's adjuvant in C57BL/6 and B10.RIII mice. Clinical scores were evaluated by funduscopy and electroretinography. Cells were isolated from inflamed eyes and analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: Different forms of EAU disease were showed with earlier disease onset, peak and higher clinical scores in acute EAU mice than chronic EAU mice [1]. In addition to increase of CD4+ T lymphocytes, percentage of CD11b+ cells were higher in the eyes of acute EAU mice than those in chronic EAU mice, while no differences were showed in CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells or natural killer T cells. Among those infiltrated CD11b+ cells, percentages of macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells were higher in acute EAU mice than those in chronic EAU mice. Conclusions: The different disease pattern in EAU between acute form and chronic form is associated with the increase of infiltrated CD4+ T lymphocytes, macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells.