THE KINETICS OF CYTOKINE MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION IN THE RETINA DURING EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE UVEORETINITIS

Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) was induced in Lewis rats and the inflamed retinas were examined for IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 mRNA production at serial time points using the reverse transcri ptase-polymerase chain reaction. IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 mRNA s were all detected 24 hr before the earliest time point at which hist ological changes have previously been detected, IFN-gamma, IL-2, and I L-4 mRNA expression peaked during the active phase of the disease and declined in parallel with lymphocyte numbers as the inflammation resol ved, IL-10 mRNA levels increased more slowly, reaching a maximum at la ter stages of disease. The observed pattern of cytokine mRNA expressio n in the retina in EAU is similar to that reported in experimental aut oimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The increase in IL-10 mRNA expression in late disease may reflect a role in disease resolution as previousl y proposed in EAE. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.