Lymphocyte proliferation response to S antigen in patients with uveitis and optic neuritis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the autoimmunity which may play a major role in the etiology of certain forms of uveitis and optic neuritis.

METHODS

Lymphocyte proliferation response to retinal soluble antigen in vitro by incorporation 3H-thymidine with DNA was tested in 115 patients with anterior uveitis, posterior/pan-uveitis, optic neuritis, and 50 volunteers with unrelated diseases such as congenital ptosis, strabismus, or completely healthy persons as control.

RESULTS

The positive rate of lymphocyte stimulation was 34% (18/53) in anterior uveitis, 41.5% (17/41) in posterior/pan-uveitis, and 57.1% (12/21) in optic neuritis. The results in the experimental groups were significantly different from those of the control group (X2 = 14.76, P < 0.05, x2 = 19.14, P < 0.005, x2 = 26.38, P < 0.005, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The autoimmunity plays a role in the pathogenesis in certain forms of uveitis and optic neuritis. Such immune responses may be secondary to the exposition or release of retinal antigens by various causes, leading to activation or augmentation of meager or low-affinity S antigen specific lymphocytes which may pre-exist in the circulation and starting the pathogenic autoimmune process.