Ecto 5'-nucleotidase activity in lymphocytes in cases of uveitis

This study attempts to demonstrate cellular reactivity in cases of uveitis. Lymphocyte AMPase activity was measured in 59 patients with uveitis of different types, all in the active stage. The patients were divided into 3 groups: 1) anterior uveitis with known disease, 2) anterior uveitis with unknown aetiology, and 3) posterior uveitis. The AMPase activity in peripheral lymphocytes from uveitis patients with known disease (group 1) was significantly decreased in comparison to lymphocytes from controls. Patients having endogenous uveitis (unknown aetiology, group 2) showed heterogeneity concerning their enzyme activity, and no significant changes were demonstrated. A subpopulation of patients with very low AMPase activity in the active stage of their disease could be defined. Patients with posterior uveitis showed no change in their lymphocyte AMPase activity. B-cells were also counted in cell suspension to verify that there was no selective change in the B-cells. Cell suspensions from patients with low and normal AMPase activities were studied by the electron microscope and found to have similar proportions of different types of mononuclear cells. Enzyme deficiencies in lymphocytes were associated with immunological disorders and would reflect dysfunction of lymphocytes. The heterogenous results from patients with endogenous uveitis were interpreted as showing cellular reactivity to ocular damage caused by a variety of mechanisms.