J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2003 Oct;44(10):2379-2386.

Immune Tolerance Induction by Anti-CD4 Monoclonal Antibody in Experimental Autoimmune Anterior Uveitis

• Yu HG
• Lee DS
• Chung H

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate the therapeutic potential of anti-CD4 antibody as an anti-inflammatory agent for the experimental autoimmune anterior uveitis. METHODS: Lewis rats were immunized with melanin-associated antigen and treated with anti-CD4 antibody for a week and then received secondary immunization with the same antigen at 8 weeks after primary immunization. The clinical grading of the uveitis and the effect of anti-CD4 on cell death and cytokine (IFN-gamma, IL-10) expression were followed.
RESULTS
The cell death of CD4+ T cells was dependent on the dose of the antibody. The prevention of the primary uveitis paralleled the deletion of CD4+ T cells. The secondary uveitis was suppressed in the eyes treated early with lower doses (0.1, 1 mg/kg) of the antibody, even though mild degree of intraocular inflammation appeared in the primary uveitis in these groups. In the eyes treated with higher doses (10, 20 mg/kg), the severity of secondary uveitis was slightly reduced despite complete suppression of primary uveitis. IFN-gamma producing CD4+ T cells decreased and IL-10 producing CD4+ T cells increased after early anti-CD4 mAb treatment with a lower dose (1.0 mg/kg).
CONCLUSIONS
These results show that anti-CD4 antibody treatment could be used in the future for the treatment of endogenous uveitis.

Keyword

Anti-CD4 antibody; CD4+ T cell; Experimental autoimmune anterior uveitis

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cell Death
Immune Tolerance*
Immunization
Immunization, Secondary
Inflammation
Interleukin-10
Rats
T-Lymphocytes
Uveitis
Uveitis, Anterior*
Interleukin-10