Anterior uveitis in murine relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS)

Purpose. To investigate whether anterior uveitis (AU), which often accompan ies central nervous system (CNS) and systemic inflammatory diseases includi ng multiple sclerosis (MS), also develops in a murine relapsing model of MS , experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) closely resembling relaps ing-remitting MS, induced by immunization with myelin basic protein (MBP) i n mice. Methods. (PL/J x SJL) F1 female mice were immunized with MBP in complete Fr eund's adjuvant (CFA) using Pertussis toxin as co-adjuvant. EAE was scored clinically on a scale of 0-5 based on the degree of paralysis. Uveitis was assessed by slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Histolological analysis of the CNS and eye were performed. Results. All immunized mice developed a characteristic relapsing paralysis. Evidence of AU was present late in the course of EAE, only after the resol ution of the first clinical relapse, in 4 of 5 mice (80%) (clinical evidenc e) and 5 of 5 (100%) (histological evidence). AU was mild to moderate with the exception of one animal, in which it was seven. Involvement was invaria bly bilateral. Histology showed mononuclear inflitrates in the iris and cil iary body. Bilateral secondary cataracts were observed in the animal with s evere inflammation. Paralytic episodes and the AU did not coincide. There w ere no clinical or histological eye abnormalities in control mice, either n on-immunized or immunized with CFA and Pertussis toxin only. Conclusion. We report AU in a mouse model of EAE which strongly resembles r elapsing MS. These results further suggest shared antigenic determinants be tween the CNS and the eye, which likely become exposed to the immune system late in the course of CNS inflammation.