Inhibition of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis with anti-macrophage migration inhibitory factor antibodies

Purpose. The role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in the re gulation of ocular autoimmune disease was studied in experimental autoimmun e uveoretinitis (EAU) in rats following immunization with a retinal antigen (Ag), interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). Methods. LEW rats were immunized with a single injection of IRBP derived pe ptide, R16(ADGSSWEGVGVVPDV). A neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb, IgM) to MIF was injected intraperitoneally every second day from day 0 to day 6 (group A), or from day 8 to day 14 (group B). Control rats were treated wit h unrelated mouse IgM or PBS. T cell proliferative responses were measured 12 days after immunization. The occurrence and severity of EAU were observe d and compared among experimental and control groups. Results. T cell proliferative responses against R16 were inhibited in rats treated with anti-MIF mAb compared with the control rats. The development o f EAU was delayed in the rats of group A in comparison with those of group B and the control group. The mean histological EAU score on day 18 in group A was 1.11 +/- 0.11 and significantly lower than those of the group B (1.2 9 +/- 0.19) and the control (1.67 +/- 0.19). Conclusions. The present result suggests that MIF plays an important role i n induction of EAU.