ANALYSIS OF GENE-EXPRESSION DURING EXPERIMENTAL UVEITIS IN THE RABBIT

Objective: To analyse the pattern of gene expression at the messenger RNA level during ocular inflammation in the rabbit. Design: A gene scr een assay was used to quantify specific binding over background (expre ssion index) of various activation markers and cytokines in rabbit iri s-ciliary body obtained during active experimental uveitis induced by injection of porcine lens protein (two animals) and in a control group (two animals). Outcome measures: Expression indices corresponding to the activation markers and cytokines assayed. Results: Compared with t he control eyes, analysis of triplicate samples from the inflamed eyes showed a significantly higher expression index corresponding to the p roto-oncogenes c-fos, c-jun and Ha-ras, interleukin-2 and heat shock p rotein Hsp27 and a significantly lower index corresponding to transfor ming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) (p < 0.05), Conclusions: Active exp erimental lens-induced uveitis is associated with a significant rise i n the gene expression of cellular activation factors and a decrease in an immunoprotective factor (TGF-beta) in the iris and ciliary body of the rabbit.