April 2010
Volume 51, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2010
The Role of Th-17 Cells, a Subset of CD4+ Helper T Cells, in the Pathogenesis of Equine Recurrent Uveitis
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • D. P. Regan
    Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery,
    University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, Georgia
  • M. C. Aarnio
    Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery,
    University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, Georgia
  • J. D. Lauderdale
    Department of Cell Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
  • M. L. Vandenplas
    Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery,
    University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, Georgia
  • K. P. Carmichael
    Department of Pathology,
    University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, Georgia
  • P. A. Moore
    Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery,
    University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, Georgia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  D.P. Regan, None; M.C. Aarnio, None; J.D. Lauderdale, None; M.L. Vandenplas, None; K.P. Carmichael, None; P.A. Moore, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  The Veterinary Ophthalmology Research Fund, The University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, Ga
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2010, Vol.51, 1174. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      D. P. Regan, M. C. Aarnio, J. D. Lauderdale, M. L. Vandenplas, K. P. Carmichael, P. A. Moore; The Role of Th-17 Cells, a Subset of CD4+ Helper T Cells, in the Pathogenesis of Equine Recurrent Uveitis. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2010;51(13):1174.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose: : Equine recurrent uveitis [ERU] is a spontaneous disease that is the most common cause of blindness in horses, affecting up to 15% of the horse population. Th17 cells have been shown to be the major cell population driving the pathogenesis in several mouse models of autoimmune inflammation, including experimental autoimmune uveitis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role that a Th17 cell-mediated autoimmune response plays in the pathogenesis of ERU.

Methods: : Banked, formalin fixed equine globes ERU (n=4) were compared immunohistochemically to normal control globes (n=4). Immunohistochemical staining using the horseradish peroxidase method, with DAB as the chromagen, was performed using a pan-Leptospira antibody, IL-17 (Santa Cruz Biotech., 1:100), and IL-23 (AnaSpec, 1:500,000). In addition, immunostaining for T- cell [CD3] and B-cell [CD79α,] markers was performed. Staining was recorded as positive or negative.

Results: : Immunohistochemical staining was positive for IL-17and IL-23 in the iris, ciliary body, and choroid of the ERU horses [n=4], but negative in controls [n=4]. ERU-affected eyes were CD3 postive (n=3), and CD79α negative (n=4). Staining for Leptospira was negative in all ERU- normal globes.

Conclusions: : Strong immunoreactivity for IL-17 and IL-23, in conjunction with the fact that T- lymphocytes are the predominating inflammatory cell present in ERU, suggests that IL-17 secreting helper-T cells play a role in the pathogenesis of ERU. These findings suggest that horses with ERU may serve as a spontaneous animal model for autoimmune uveitis.

Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model • autoimmune disease • immunohistochemistry 
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×