July 2019
Volume 60, Issue 9
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   July 2019
Antibody mediated retinal damage in a NMO animal model
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Laura Petrikowski
    University Eye Hospital, Experimental Eye Research Institute, Bochum, Germany
    St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Neuroimmunology, Germany
  • Sabrina Reinehr
    University Eye Hospital, Experimental Eye Research Institute, Bochum, Germany
  • Florian Graz
    University Eye Hospital, Experimental Eye Research Institute, Bochum, Germany
    St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Neuroimmunology, Germany
  • Steffen Haupeltshofer
    St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Neuroimmunology, Germany
  • Ingo Kleiter
    St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Neuroimmunology, Germany
  • Ralf Gold
    St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Neuroimmunology, Germany
  • Burkhard Dick
    University Eye Hospital, Experimental Eye Research Institute, Bochum, Germany
  • Simon Faissner
    St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Neuroimmunology, Germany
  • Stephanie C Joachim
    University Eye Hospital, Experimental Eye Research Institute, Bochum, Germany
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Laura Petrikowski, None; Sabrina Reinehr, None; Florian Graz, None; Steffen Haupeltshofer, None; Ingo Kleiter, None; Ralf Gold, None; Burkhard Dick, None; Simon Faissner, None; Stephanie Joachim, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science July 2019, Vol.60, 2259. doi:
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      Laura Petrikowski, Sabrina Reinehr, Florian Graz, Steffen Haupeltshofer, Ingo Kleiter, Ralf Gold, Burkhard Dick, Simon Faissner, Stephanie C Joachim; Antibody mediated retinal damage in a NMO animal model. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2019;60(9):2259.

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

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Abstract

Purpose : Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune-inflammatory CNS disease mostly affecting the optic nerve and spinal cord. The impact on the visual pathway, especially loss of vision, can be severe for the patients. However, the pathogenic effects of autoantibodies directed against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) is not well understood yet. Therefore, we investigated the impact of those autoantibodies to the visual system to get a better understanding of the mechanisms of degeneration.

Methods : We used opticospinal encephalomyelitis (OSE) mice which are double-transgenic (2D2/Th) animals with a C57Bl/6 background that develop EAE spontaneously. The clinical score of the disease was evaluated daily on a scale from 0 to 10. At six weeks of age, the retinal morphology and its function was evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT) as well as electroretinography (ERG). Additionally, retinal layers were measured on H&E stained cross-sections. Retinal ganglion cells were analyzed via immunohistochemistry (RBPMS). Statistics were performed using student’s t-test.

Results : OSE mice showed clinical symptoms of encephalomyelitis with flaccid hind limb paralysis. A significantly higher score was observed in six week old OSE mice (p<0.0001), while control mice remained healthy. A-wave amplitudes were significantly reduced at 10 and 25 cd.s/m2 flash intensity in the OSE compared to the control group after 6 weeks (p<0.05). A decreasing trend of the b-wave amplitude could be seen at flash intensities of 0.1 and 0.3 cd.s/m2 in OSE animals in comparison to the control group. A significant reduction could be noticed at flash intensities of 1 up to 25 cd.s/m2 in the OSE mice (p<0.05). Significantly fewer RBPMS+ cells were noted in OSE mice (47.5±4.0 cells/mm) compared to controls (68.3±9.2 cells/mm; p=0.042).

Conclusions : Our data show that not only clinical neurological symptoms, but also retinal damage occurs in animals with autoreactive T-cells to MOG. Loss of retinal functionality as well as fewer retinal ganglion cells were detected at a very early stage. Therefore, not only the spinal cord and the optic nerve seem to be affected by autoantibodies but also the retina.

This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.

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