RECOVERIN IS HIGHLY UVEITOGENIC IN LEWIS RATS

Purpose. Recoverin, a calcium-binding protein that selectively localiz es to the retina and pineal gland, has been identified as the target f or the putative pathogenic autoimmune process of cancer-associated ret inopathy (CAR). The present study was aimed at testing the capacity of recoverin to induce experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis and pineali tis in Lewis rats. Methods. Lewis rats were immunized against recombin ant myristoylated recoverin by a single footpad injection of the prote in, at various doses, emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant. Develo pment of uveoretinitis was monitored by clinical and histologic examin ations, whereas pinealitis was detected by histologic examination. Res ults. Immunization with recoverin induced severe panuveitic changes th at closely resemble those induced by S-antigen (arrestin). The effect was dose-dependent, with 10 mu g/rat the lowest immunopathogenic dose. Rats immunized with recoverin also developed pineal inflammation. Con clusion. Recoverin is highly immunopathogenic in Lewis rats. Although the ocular changes induced in rats differ from those seen in CAR, the data recorded here are in line with the concept that recoverin can ini tiate pathogenic autoimmune processes in the eye.