Ta. Ferguson et al., NEUROPEPTIDES MODULATE IMMUNE DEVIATION INDUCED VIA THE ANTERIOR-CHAMBER OF THE EYE, The Journal of immunology, 155(4), 1995, pp. 1746-1756
Ag presentation via the anterior chamber of the eye results in a form
of immune deviation termed anterior chamber-associated immune deviatio
n (ACAID). The hallmarks of this response are the suppression of delay
ed-type hypersensitivity with simultaneous induction of Ab production.
In this study, we examined the role of the neuropeptides vasoactive i
ntestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) and found that the levels
of these two peptides are controlled by neurogenic stimulation of the
eye by light, and that these molecules determine the outcome of Ag pr
esentation in the eye. Mice reared under diurnal conditions had VIP in
the iris and ciliary body (not free in aqueous humor) and low levels
of SP. Mice that were reared in the dark (or dark-adapted) did not con
tain detectable levels of VIP but had high levels of SP. The adaptatio
n of diurnal mice to the dark eliminated VIP and increased SP, while a
dapting dark-reared mice to the diurnal cycle increased VIP and reduce
d SP. We then tested the hypothesis that immune reactions resulting fr
om Ag presentation in the eye were linked to SP and VIP. We found that
a VIP receptor antagonist, when injected into the eye with Ag, revers
ed ACAID in diurnal mice, while a SP receptor antagonist restored ACAI
D to dark-adapted mice. We further determined that injection of Ag or
TNF-alpha induced VIP release, while SP was liberated into the aqueous
humor following reexposure of dark-reared mice to light. Our results
demonstrate a close linkage of intraocular immune reactions to neurope
ptide levels in the eye.