Abstract
The immunoreactivity of types I, III and V collagen, fibronectin and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) was studied by an immunogold labeling method in retinal vessels of rats with experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) induced by retinal S-antigen. The basal lamina of retinal capillaries in normal rats showed low immunoreactivities for the extracellular matrix components and TGF-beta. However, at the peak of inflammation (day 13-16 postimmunization), labeling of all three types of collagen and fibronectin increased considerably in the basal lamina of retinal vessels. TGF-beta immunoreactivity was detected mainly in the vascular endothelium and the pericytes. The results suggest that TGF-beta synthesized by the endothelial cells and pericytes may regulate the synthesis and composition of extracellular matrix components in the vascular basal lamina during the course of EAU development.
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