Regulation, counter-regulation, and immunotherapy of autoimmune responses to immunologically privileged retinal antigens

Our interests revolve around the study of biological mechanisms regulating self-tolerance to immunologically privileged retinal proteins that serve as targets in sight-threatening autoimmune uveitic disease. These studies are aimed at understanding how self-tolerance to these antigens develops during ontogeny and is maintained during adulthood, the processes involved in its pathological breakdown, the regulatory mechanisms that bring about remission and recovery, and, finally, how we can utilize knowledge of these processes for therapeutic restoration of tolerance. To answer these questions, we use the experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) model in rats and mice. Because of the commonality of underlying immunological mechanisms, lessons and concepts learned in experimental ocular models are applicable to other disease entities, and, conversely, data gleaned from other autoimmune diseases are applicable to the study of uveitis.