Cellular autoimmunity to retinal specific antigens in Behcet's disease

ABSTRACT

Behcet's disease is characterised by a systemic disorders where autoimmune mechanisms play a role in its pathogenesis. Antigen S [Ag.S], interphotoreceptor retinoid protein [IRBP], and their respective uveitogenic peptides M, N, and R-4, R-14, caused on experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis [EAU] in animals. In this context, we investigated the proliferation of peripheral blood T cells in response to Ag.S, IRBP and their peptides. Patients with BD with uveitis responded highly to S antigen, to peptide M and N, when compared to BD patients without uveitis and healthy controls. Lymphocytes from patients with BD with uveitis proliferate to IRBP as well as uveitis patients not associated to BD. The responses were inhibited by monoclonal antibodies anti-CD4, anti-HLADR and anti CD11 a, indicating the importance of these molecules in T cell mediated immunity with these ocular antigens. Our results supported the idea that autoimmunity to retinal specific antigens may play a role in the ocular inflammation in BD