Cell-mediated immunity to lens proteins in rats.

The radiometric ear index technique was performed to investigate the ability of lens proteins to induce a cellular autoimmune response in rats. The immunization of inbred rats with autologous total lens crystallins caused activation of the cellular immune system that was predominantly directed to beta-crystallins; alpha-crystallins and gamma-crystallins were less active. The injection of autologous lens material into the ears of rats immunized with this material caused a significant infiltration of cells containing tritium-labelled thymidine.