Experimental specific memory reaction to cornea, lens, and retina antigens.

Lymphocytes from rabbits immunized against various ocular extracts were challenged in vitro by the immunizing extract, by other ocular extracts from the same species, and by analogous extracts from other species. Immunological memory reaction, demonstrated by the blast transformation phenomenon, was found toward organ-specific and species-specific antigens. The organ cross-reactivity was greatest when cornea and lens were tested. Immunization of rabbits against calf cornea with extract emulsified in Freund adjuvant injected into the hind foot-pads induced the appearance of specific memory cells in popliteal lymph nodes, spleen, and blood. Immunization by interlamellar xenografting has shown that memory lymphocytes are mainly localized in the preauricular lymph nodes and are nearly absent from spleen and popliteal lymph nodes. These findings indicate the important role of the local immunological mechanism of the eye.