[Participation of non-major histocompatibility complex gene in experimental autoimmune uveitis]

It is known that the susceptibility of experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) is controlled by both major histocompatibility antigen complex (MHC) and non-MHC genes. In this report, we studied the role of non-MHC gene in the induction of EAU. LEW, WKAH, (LEW x WKAH) F1 and (LEW x WKAH) F2 rats were examined for their incidence and severity to develop EAU by immunization with bovine S-antigen (S-Ag). We found that all LEW rats developed severe EAU within 2 weeks after immunization, but no WKAH rat did. Most F1 rats developed mild inflammation in 3-4 weeks after immunization. A quarter of F2 rats developed EAU within 2 weeks, half of them developed it in 3-6 weeks after immunization, and the others did not. These findings suggest that only one non-MHC gene controls the susceptibility to S-Ag induced EAU in rats.