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Analysis of gene expression during experimental uveitis in the rabbit
G Rocha1, A Duclos, L E Chalifour
1Department of Ophthalmology, McGill University, Montreal, Que.
Objective:
To analyse the pattern of gene expression at the messenger RNA level during ocular inflammation in the rabbit.
Design:
A gene screen assay was used to quantify specific binding over background (expression index) of various activation markers and cytokines in rabbit iris-ciliary body obtained during active experimental uveitis induced by injection of porcine lens protein (two animals) and in a control group (two animals).
Outcome Measures:
Expression indices corresponding to the activation markers and cytokines assayed.
Results:
Compared with the control eyes, analysis of triplicate samples from the inflamed eyes showed a significantly higher expression index corresponding to the proto-oncogenes c-fos, c-jun and Ha-ras, interleukin-2 and heat shock protein Hsp27 and a significantly lower index corresponding to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Active experimental lens-induced uveitis is associated with a significant rise in the gene expression of cellular activation factors and a decrease in an immunoprotective factor (TGF-beta) in the iris and ciliary body of the rabbit.