Induction of autoantibodies to rat corneal protein 54

SUMMARY Many studies have described the presence of circulating antibodies against corneal components in patients with corneal disease or uveitis, and in patients with skin or systemic disease with or without ocular involvement. The role of such antibodies in the underlying immunopathological proces...

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Published in:Clinical and experimental immunology 1992-04, Vol.88 (1), p.101-106
Main Authors: VERHAGEN, C., BREEBAART, A.C., SUTTORP‐SCHULTEN, M.S.A., HOEKZEMA, R., HAREN, M., KIJLSTRA, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase
Animals
Antibody Specificity
autoantibodies
Autoantibodies - biosynthesis
autoimmunity
Autoimmunity (experimental aspects and models)
Biological and medical sciences
cornea
Cornea - immunology
Eye Proteins - immunology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fundamental immunology
Immunization
Male
RaCP 54
rat
Rats
Rats, Inbred Strains
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Summary:SUMMARY Many studies have described the presence of circulating antibodies against corneal components in patients with corneal disease or uveitis, and in patients with skin or systemic disease with or without ocular involvement. The role of such antibodies in the underlying immunopathological process remains obscure. Here we describe the induction of autoantibodies against the rat cornea. Our attempts to induce corncal autoantibodies by various forms of keratitis and corneal trauma failed. However, circulating corneal autoantibodies could be detected by Western blotting after immunization of BN rats and Lewis rats with bovine corneal protein 54 (BCP 54). Rats immunized with rat corneal extracts (RaCE) or human serum albumin (HSA) as (auto) antigen did not develop corncal autoantibodies. During the study period (> 4 months), it was observed that the presence of circulating corncal autoantibodies did not elicit corneal inflammation. Severe keratitis did develop when BCP 54‐immunized rats were challenged intracorneally with BCP 54, but the clinical signs were not significantly different from HSA‐immunized rats after an intracomcal HSA challenge. Injection of corneal autoantibodies into the corneal stroma did not provoke kcratilis. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study demonstrating corneal autoantibodies in rats without actual manipulation of the eye. This model may provide further insights in the role and significance of corneal autoantibodies in disease.
ISSN:0009-9104
1365-2249
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2249.1992.tb03046.x