Intraocular inflammation in transgenic mice expressing a foreign antigen in their lens a preliminary report

Lens-induced uveitis can be elicited in experimental animals by immunization with lens antigens, followed by puncture of the lens capsule. The animal disease, that serves as a model for the human disease (also known as phacoanaphylactic endophthalmitis), has been shown to be mediated by antibodies against the lens antigens. Here the authors report on a new disease model for lens-induced uveitis which is cell-mediated. This experimental disease is induced in transgenic (Tg) mice that express hen egg lysozyme (HEL) in their lens. Eyes of these mice show disrupted lens, but no inflammation. On the other hand, severe inflammation develops in eyes of these Tg mice following intraperitoneal injection of lymphocytes from syngeneic wildtype donors sensitized against HEL. Furthermore, the recipient mice exhibit intense cellular immunity but no antibodies against HEL.