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Mouse exophthalmic chronic orbital inflammatory disease. Induction by human leucocyte intracellular Mollicutes
E Wirostko1, L Johnson, W Wirostko
1Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY 10032.
Abstract:
Mollicutes are cell wall deficient bacteria which may be overlooked or confused with viruses because of indistinct light microscopic morphology, poor staining, difficulty in cultivation, and the ability to pass 0.450 micron filters. As they have a distinctive ultrastructural appearance they can be identified using transmission electron microscopy [TEM]. Using TEM vitreous leucocytes from chronic endogenous uveitis patients may demonstrate non-cultivable intracellular 0.005-1.0 micron mollicute-like organisms [MLO], some of which develop into distinctive cell walled cocci, 0.5-0.7 micron in diameter. Inoculation of those MLO containing human vitreous into mouse eyelids produces chronic cardiac and uveal vasculitis with orbital inflammation. Similar MLO are found within the mouse lesional leucocytes. This report describes the chronic orbital inflammation with vasculitis in 67 of 100 of those MLO inoculated mice versus 0 of 200 controls (P less than 0.05). Exophthalmos with inflammation also occurred in 12 of those 67 mice (P less than 0.05). MLO were found within orbital lesional leucocytes of 10 of 10 of those mice using a TEM versus 0 of 10 controls. The results indicate that vasculitis and exophthalmos were important features of this MLO induced mouse orbital inflammation. The implication of these results for human idiopathic chronic orbital inflammatory disease is discussed.
Insights
Mollicute-like organisms (MLO) found in human eye fluid caused chronic inflammation and vasculitis in mice. These cell-wall-deficient bacteria may be linked to human orbital inflammatory diseases.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Mollicutes are cell-wall-deficient bacteria challenging to detect via traditional methods.
- Their small size and unique morphology can lead to misidentification as viruses.
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is crucial for identifying these organisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential role of mollicute-like organisms (MLO) in chronic orbital inflammation.
- To establish an animal model for studying MLO-induced orbital disease.
Main Methods:
- TEM was used to identify MLO in vitreous fluid from uveitis patients.
- Human vitreous containing MLO was inoculated into mouse eyelids.
- Orbital tissues and leukocytes in mice were examined for inflammation and MLO presence using TEM.
Main Results:
- MLO were identified intracellularly in human vitreous leukocytes.
- Inoculation induced chronic vasculitis and orbital inflammation in 67% of mice.
- Exophthalmos and MLO presence in orbital leukocytes were observed in affected mice.
Conclusions:
- MLO can induce chronic orbital inflammation, vasculitis, and exophthalmos in a mouse model.
- These findings suggest a potential link between MLO and human idiopathic chronic orbital inflammatory diseases.
- Further research is warranted to explore MLO's role in human ophthalmological conditions.