[MHC and non-MHC gene effects on the development of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis]

Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) can be induced in rats by interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP), and served as a model for human uveitis. Using IRBP-derived peptide R16, we investigated the MHC and non-MHC genes' effect on the regulation and susceptibility to EAU. EAU-high susceptible LEW (RT1l), EAU-low susceptible WKAH (RT1k), and WKAH.1L rats which carry RT1l and WKAH background were immunized with 2 nmol of R16. One hundred percent of LEW rats developed EAU and 92.9% of WKAH. 1L rats. Only, 18.8% of WKAH rats developed EAU. Among these strains tested, the severity of EAU was 2.06 in LEW, 1.23 in WKAH.1L, and 0.38 in WKAH. R16 evoked substantial proliferative responses in all these strains. The present data suggest that both MHC and non-MHC genes play distinct roles in development of EAU.