The effect of cyclosporine in chlamydial eye infection.

The effect of cyclosporine (CsA) treatment in both primary and secondary Chlamydia trachomatis ocular infection in cynomolgus monkeys was studied. Following primary infection, CsA-treated animals developed severe clinical symptoms which persisted for up to 12 weeks compared to control animals which developed less severe inflammation lasting only 4 to 6 weeks. CsA treatment had no effect on the clinical course of a second ocular infection. Antigen-specific antibodies developed normally in the serum and tears of all animals, but the titer of IgM in serum and secreted IgA in tears of CsA-treated animals was significantly lower than control animals. Chlamydia-specific cell-mediated immunity, as determined by in vitro lymphoproliferation assays of peripheral blood, did not develop in either group of animals.