Journal article
Autoreactive Antibodies and Loss of Retinal Ganglion Cells in Rats Induced by Immunization with Ocular Antigens
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, Vol.52(12), pp.8835-8848
11/11/2011
DOI: 10.1167/iovs.10-6889
PMID: 22003114
Abstract
Purpose: In an experimental autoimmune animal model, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss was induced through immunization with glaucoma-related antigens. The target of this study was to investigate the pathomechanism behind this decline and the serum antibody reactivity against ocular and neuronal tissues after immunization with glaucoma- and non-glaucoma-associated antigens.
Methods: Rats immunized with optic nerve antigen homogenate (ONA) or keratin (KER) were compared to control rats (CO). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured, and the fundi were examined regularly. Four weeks afterward, cells were counted in retinal flat mounts. Retina, optic nerve, and brain sections from healthy animals and optic nerve sections from immunized animals were incubated with serum collected at different time points. The occurrence of autoreactive antibodies was examined. Signs of antibody deposits, microglia activation, and demyelination were sought in optic nerves of immunized animals. Brain sections were examined for abnormalities.
Results: No IOP or fundus changes were observed. Animals immunized with ONA showed a significant cell loss compared with the CO group. Elevated autoreactive antibodies against retina, optic nerve, and brain were observed. Animals immunized with KER, despite their immunologic response against KER, demonstrated neither RGC loss, nor increased development of autoreactive antibodies. Optic nerve from animals immunized with ONA demonstrated antibody accumulation, glia activation, and demyelination. No such observations were made in the KER or CO groups. Brain sections were without pathologic findings.
Conclusions: Systemic autoimmunity against ocular and neuronal epitopes, mediated by accordant autoreactive antibodies, is involved in the inflammatory processes that cause RGC degeneration in this experimental animal model.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Autoreactive Antibodies and Loss of Retinal Ganglion Cells in Rats Induced by Immunization with Ocular Antigens
- Creators
- Panagiotis Laspas - From Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology andOliver W Gramlich - From Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology andHarald D Müller - the Department of Neuropathology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany; andClemens S Cuny - From Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology andPhilip F Gottschling - From Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology andNorbert Pfeiffer - From Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology andH. Burkhard Dick - the Experimental Eye Research Institute, Ruhr University Eye Hospital, Bochum, GermanyStephanie C Joachim - the Experimental Eye Research Institute, Ruhr University Eye Hospital, Bochum, GermanyFranz H Grus - From Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology and
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, Vol.52(12), pp.8835-8848
- DOI
- 10.1167/iovs.10-6889
- PMID
- 22003114
- NLM abbreviation
- Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci
- ISSN
- 0146-0404
- eISSN
- 1552-5783
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/11/2011
- Academic Unit
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Neuroscience and Pharmacology; Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984070643402771
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