Uveitis: lymphocyte subpopulation studies.

Recent advances in cellular immunology have enabled us to delineate numerous lymphocyte subsets and activation stages using monoclonal antibody techniques. lymphocyte subsets and activation stages using monoclonal antibody techniques. We have used a fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) and newer monoclonal antibodies to study lymphocyte subpopulations and activation stages of T lymphocytes in intraocular fluids and peripheral blood of uveitis patients. T lymphocytes predominated in aqueous and vitreous. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the T lymphocyte subsets in aqueous and peripheral blood. No correlation was seen between the intravitreal lymphocyte subsets and peripheral blood. Many intraocular lymphocytes are present in the aqueous secondary to a blood ocular barrier breakdown. Using an anti-interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor monoclonal antibody as a marker for T-cell activation, activated lymphocytes were found in intraocular and peripheral blood of both idiopathic and non-idiopathic uveitis. A statistically significant correlation was found between in vivo lymphocyte activation and clinical uveitis activity. In uveitis, lymphocyte activation in the eye paralleled levels found in the blood. Systemic and intraocular lymphocyte activation occurs in both idiopathic uveitis as well as in systemic syndromes associated with intraocular inflammation. It is possible that idiopathic uveitis is a systemic disease.