Effects of anti-idiotypic immunizations on autoimmune uveitis induced with isologous lens proteins.

Autoimmune uveitis was induced in F1 hybrid rabbits by administering intramuscularly lens proteins in Freund's complete adjuvant. Cellular infiltration in the anterior chamber of the eye appeared in a cyclic manner and anti-lens protein antibody in the serum was mostly of oligoclonal origin, as assessed by isoelectric focusing analysis. Immunizations of such rabbits with autologous or isologous anti-lens protein antibody affected little the appearance of cellular infiltration upon rechallenge with lens proteins, but anti-lens protein antibody was replaced by other antibodies with different isoelectric points. Serum from these rabbits contained antibody which inhibited the antibody activity of certain anti-lens protein antibody.