Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP)-specific Th1 and Th17 cells in monophasic and recurrent experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) (99.10)

Abstract

Abstract Emerging evidence supports the notion that the IL-17 producing T cells (Th17 cells) play an important role in the inflammatory response of autoimmune diseases. We wished to determine whether eye-infiltrating autoreactive T cells differ between monophasic and relapsing uveitis, and whether Th1 and Th17 autoreactive T cells play distinctive roles in monophasic versus recurrent uveitis. Analysis of the cellular components of eye-infiltrating cells revealed that within the inflamed eye of m-EAU, Th17 cells were dominant in the earlier stage, and declined gradually with disease resolution. In contrast; the number of Th1 cells was lower than Th17 cells in the early stages of disease but gradually increased during the peak and remission of eye inflammation. During r-EAU, abundant IFN-r single positive cells and IFN-rIL-17 double positive T cells were found in the early stage of disease; the double positive cells gradually declined, while the IFN-r T cells persisted in the entire disease process. Only a few IL-17 single positive T cells were found in the inflamed eye during the entire disease episode. Our studies indicate that a change in the ratio of autoreactive T cell subsets between Th17 and Th1 appears to correlate with disease recovery of m-EAU. The appearance of IFN-rIL-17 double positive autoreactive T cells may correlate with the acute attack of eye inflammation in r-EAU. The pathogenic and immunoregulatory function of single positive and double positive autoreactive T cells remain to be further investigated.