Ocular injection of retinal S antigen: suppression of autoimmune uveitis.

Uveoretinitis induced in Lewis rats by foot pad injections of retinal soluble (S) antigen is a model system used to study the immunopathogenesis of the autoimmune uveoretinitides in which delayed hypersensitivity plays a dominant role. Since down-regulation of delayed hypersensitivity can be achieved by injection of antigens into the anterior chamber of the eye, we have examined the potential of intracameral S antigen to mitigate experimental autoimmune uveitis. The results of these studies reveal that pretreatment of Lewis rats with S antigen injected into the anterior chamber markedly reduces the incidence and expression of experimental autoimmune uveitis.