The Effects of the Cyclosporines on Ocular Inflammatory Disease

Abstract

The search for newer immunosuppressive therapies remains an important goal in the treatment of intra-ocular inflammatory disease. With this goal in mind, we have had the opportunity to evaluate several animal models for intra-ocular inflammatory disease, in particular the retinal S-Ag induced experimental autoimmune uveitis model (1). This disorder can be transferred to naive recipients by T-cell lines specific to the S-antigen that have been maintained in vitro for extended periods of time (2). The demonstration of the strong T-cell role in this animal model that has many aspects strikingly similar to the human condition supported strongly the concept that specific anti-T-cell medications could be effective in some types of human disease. This report deals with several aspects of our work concerning the cyclosporines, a group of medications with specific anti-T-cell qualities, both in the animal model, and in patients with ocular inflammatory disease.