Abstract
Purpose :
Non-infectious uveitis (NIU) is a disorder characterized by a chronic relapsing clinical course of eye infammation, representing the fourth leading cause of blindness in the working age. The previously reported nonhuman primate (NHP) models exhibit uveitis changes only at posterior segment of eyes. We optimized and characterized an NIU model in NHPs.
Methods :
We immunized 7 rhesus macaques (4 female/3 males) with subcutaneous injection of 100 μg S antigen for twice. We performed slit lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy once a week, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and OCT once every 2 weeks, and ERG once every 4 weeks for 12 weeks. Anterior chamber cell counts were assessed and graded according to Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) Working Group criteria. Vitreous haze was assessed and graded according to the SUN-adapted National Eye Institute criteria. Retinal and choroidal inflammation, vascular sheathing, and retinal hemorrhages were each graded from 0.0 to 4.0.
Results :
Anterior chamber cells were first noted in females at week 4 and in males at week 8, extending to week 12. The grade varied from 0.5+ to 4+. Retinal hemorrhages, inflammation, and optic disc edema were noted in all animals within 1 week after the presence of anterior chamber cells. The grade varied from 1 to 9 in females and 1 to 6 in males. Vitreous haze was noted in all females but only in 1 out of the 3 males. Macular edema and subretinal fluid were noted by OCT in monkeys showing anterior chamber cells and retinal inflammation. The uveitis features above showed a chronic relapsing course over 12 weeks.
Significant declines in amplitudes of the light-adapted a-wave (15.0±5.7μv), b-wave (46.7±22.5μv) and dark-adapted a-wave (118.7±51.8μv), b-wave (218.1±95.9μv) were noted in all females at week 4 compared to pre-induction (p=0.045 p=0.026, p=0.018, and p=0.013, respectively) with no recovery by week 12 (p=0.002, p=0.002, p=0.004, and p=0.010, respectively). The significant declines in amplitudes of the light-adapted and dark-adapted a-wave and b-wave were noted in 1 out of the 3 males at week 12.
Conclusions :
The structural and functional results demonstrated in this nonhuman primate model mimic those encountered in human anterior, intermediate and posterior uveitis and may serve as a useful tool to translate promising interventions into viable treatment approaches.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.