[Contribution of immunologic mechanisms in endogenous uveitis]

It has long been known that eye is an immunologically privileged organ. This is concerned with central and peripheral mechanisms that control the eye immunological tolerance. New models of human inflammatory eye disorders were induced in laboratory animals by immunization with photoreceptor antigens (EAU) and retinal pigmented epithelium antigens (EAAU and EAPU). Continual investigations on eye immunological response mechanisms indicated the central role of lymphocyte T-helper, although reactions with circulating immune complexes cannot be excluded. Individual susceptibility to autoimmune uveitic disorders is genetically controlled and is regulated by MHC-antigens and by non-MHC dependent factors, and the latter ones seem to play a more important role.