Autoimmune Uveitis (Choroiditis) in the Guinea Pig Sensitized with Homologous Uvea and its Differentiation from that Following Sensitization with Homologous Retina

摘要

The present results show that the immunogenicity of homologous uvea in the guinea pig may be either potentiated or suppressed according to the amount of mycobacteria in the immunizing inoculum. With an appropriate concentration of mycobacteria in the uveal emulsion, one immunization was found to elicit allergic uveitis within a few weeks. Temporal studies of the pathologic manifestations show that the lesions originate and persist in the choroid, and are associated with humoral and hypersensitive response to a uveal specific antigen localized in the posterior uveal segment. According to both immunologic and pathologic criteria, the model of uveitis evoked with uvea is not the same as that evoked with retina. Results are discussed in relation to the controversial nature of the disease obtained previously by persistent reimmunization with uvea emulsions.