Meyers-Elliott R H, Elliott J H, Chitjian P A, Ho P C
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1981 Jan;20(1):86-99.
Epidermal growth factor (EGF), which has been shown to stimulate epidermal proliferation and keratinization and to induce regeneration of rabbit corneal epithelium, was studied for its immunogenic potential in rabbits. Mouse-derived EGF was administered topically, subconjunctivally, intrastromally, and systemically. Systemic immunization was done both with and without complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). EGF-stimulated cultures of lymphocytes from peripheral blood, spleen, and lymph nodes of all immunized animals were tested for cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to EGF. All experimental animals demonstrated CMI as determined by either classic positive delayed skin tests or by in vitro production of migration inhibitory factors, regardless of the route of sensitization. Only animals immunized systemically with EGF and CFA produced high-titered specific anti-EGF antibody, and only this group showed ocular reactions after subsequent topical challenge of EGF. These results suggest that antibody to EGF is the major cause for ocular inflammatory reactions observed subsequent to topical EGF challenge of a sensitized animal.
表皮生长因子（EGF）已被证明可刺激表皮增殖和角质化，并诱导兔角膜上皮再生，本研究旨在探讨其在兔体内的免疫原性。将小鼠源性EGF分别通过局部、结膜下、基质内和全身途径给药。全身免疫接种分别在有和没有完全弗氏佐剂（CFA）的情况下进行。对所有免疫动物外周血、脾脏和淋巴结中经EGF刺激的淋巴细胞培养物进行检测，以评估其对EGF的细胞介导免疫（CMI）。所有实验动物，无论致敏途径如何，通过经典的阳性迟发型皮肤试验或体外产生迁移抑制因子来确定，均表现出CMI。只有用EGF和CFA进行全身免疫的动物产生了高滴度的特异性抗EGF抗体，并且只有该组在随后局部给予EGF激发后出现眼部反应。这些结果表明，EGF抗体是致敏动物局部给予EGF激发后观察到的眼部炎症反应的主要原因。
