COMPARISON OF THE EXPRESSION OF INTERFERON-GAMMA, IL2, IL4, AND LYMPHOTOXIN MESSENGER-RNA IN EXPERIMENTAL AUTOIMMUNE UVEORETINITIS

The aim of this study was to investigate the T lymphocyte subsets invo lved in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) by quantifying the numbers of cells expressing mRNA for each of the lymphokines interfer on gamma, interleukin 2, interleukin 4, and lymphotoxin throughout the disease process. Lewis rats were immunised with retinal S-antigen to provide a model of inflammatory eye disease. In situ hybridisation usi ng cDNA probes specific for interferon gamma, IL2, IL4, and lymphotoxi n mRNA were utilised to localise lymphokine mRNA expression by infiltr ating cells and the numbers of positive cells counted. Localisation of mRNA for all four probes was found on increasing cell numbers as the disease process progressed. Similar numbers of cells expressed mRNA fo r each lymphokine, generally a small percentage of the T lymphocyte to tal. Activated cells within the eye express mRNA for interferon gamma, IL2, IL4, and lymphotoxin in EAU suggesting a mixed population of T l ymphocyte subsets.