Effect of ischemia duration on autoantibody response in rats undergoing retinal ischemia-reperfusion

Both the innate and the adaptive immune systems are involved in the pathogenic processes following ischemia-reperfusion injury. We analyzed the possible correlation between the duration of ischemia and autoantibody diversification in a model of ocular ischemia. Rats were subjected to 30, 45, or 90 min of ischemia, and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) density and antibody reactivity were analyzed via customized protein microarray slides. After ocular ischemia, significant alterations in antibody response were observed, while increasing exposure caused more severe RGC damage. Distinct antibody responses after ischemia were detected; these alterations comprised decreased reactivities against cyclophilin A and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, possibly due to increased binding of circulating antibodies to debris material. Other antibodies, like those against α(5)β(1)-integrin or β(2) -adrenergic receptor, were upregulated after ischemia.