INTERPHOTORECEPTOR RETINOID BINDING-PROTEIN INDUCED EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE UVEITIS - AN IMMUNOPHENOTYPIC ANALYSIS USING ALKALINE-PHOSPHATASE ANTIALKALINE PHOSPHATASE STAINING, DUAL IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE AND CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY

Using a Lewis rat model of IRBP induced EAU, we have examined the progress of leucocytes infiltrating the uveitic eye. APAAP and dual immunofluorescence were used to show that ED7 and 8 (CD11b/CD18) positive monocytes, W3/25 and OX8 (CD4 and CD8) lymphocytes were prominant in the initial inflammatory exudate around the retinal vessels and in the choroid. ED1 positive monocytes were also observed in the choroid. As disease progressed, these cells moved into the inner retina, vitreous and ROS. ED8 positive cells were the first to appear in the ROS. This was followed by the later appearance of ED2 tissue macrophages in the vitreous and ED3 inflammatory macrophages in the vitreous and ROS.