Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: We tested whether antigen administration via the anterior chamber (a.c.) was equivalent to intravenous (i.v.) or mucosal routes for tolerance induction. Methods: To determine whether the administration of antigen via the a.c. was equivalent to i.v. or mucosal administration of antigen ovalbumin (OVA)–specific CD8+ TCR transgenic (OT–I) T cells were enumerated in lymphoid tissues of adoptive recipient C57Bl/6 (B6) mice after the same amount of OVA was administered via a.c, iv or mucosal routes. Lytic (CTL) activity was measured in B6 and γΔ T cell deficient B6 mice given OVA via the various routes after injection with OVA in complete Freund’s adjuvant.to assess CTL tolerance. Results:OVA–specific OT–I T cells did not increase in secondary lymphoid organs of B6 recipients of OT–I spleen cells when OVA was given via the ocular mucosa. In contrast, OVA–specific CD8+ T cells increased 9–fold in the ipsilateral submandibular lymph nodes (SMLN) and 3.5 fold in spleens but did not increase in the contralateral SMLN of B6 recipients of OT–I T cells given OVA a.c. CD8+ T cells increased 4.9–fold in spleen and 2–fold in all lymph nodes tested when mice were given OVA i.v. OVA given a.c. and i.v. but not mucosally, induced CTL tolerance, but inhibition of CTL responses was significantly greater in mice given OVA a.c. rather than i.v. Moreover, γΔ T cells contributed to a.c. but not i.v. induced CTL tolerance. Conclusions: Administration of antigen a.c. has different immunological consequences than i.v. or mucosal routes.
Keywords: immune tolerance/privilege • ACAID • anterior chamber