Local Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Impair Progression of Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis by Alleviating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
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Updated: Jul 12, 2025
Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis: An Intraocular Inflammatory Mouse Model
Published on: January 12, 2022
Jae-Young Lee1, Sueon Kim2, Hyun-Jung Sohn2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Purpose:
To evaluate the immune regulatory effect of human cord blood myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) models.
Methods:
MDSCs (1 × 106) or PBS were injected into established C57BL/6 EAU mice via the subconjunctival route on days 0 and 7. The severity of intraocular inflammation was evaluated for up to 3 weeks. Tissue injury and inflammation were analyzed using immunolabelled staining, real-time PCR, and ELISA. In addition, immune cells in draining lymph nodes (LNs) were quantified using flow cytometry.
Results:
After 21 days, the clinical scores and histopathological grades of EAU were lower in the MDSCs group compared with the PBS group. Local administration of MDSCs suppressed the oxidative stress and the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in the retinal tissues. In addition, it inhibited the activation of pathogenic T helper 1 (Th1) and Th17 cells in draining LNs. MDSCs increased the frequency of CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and the mRNA expression of IL-10, as an immune modulator.
Conclusions:
MDSCs suppressed inflammation and oxidative stress in the retina and inhibited pathogenic T cells in the LNs in EAU. Therefore, ocular administration of MDSCs has therapeutic potential for uveitis.
