Participation of non-major histocompatibility antigen complex gene in experimental autoimmune uveitis.

It is known that the susceptibility to experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) is controlled by both major histocompatibility antigen complex (MHC) and non-MHC genes. In this report, we studied the role of non-MHC genes in the induction of EAU. LEW, WKAH, (LEW x WKAH)F1, and (LEW x WKAH)F2 rats were examined to determine the incidence and severity of EAU induced by immunization with bovine S-antigen (S-Ag). We found that all the LEW rats developed severe EAU within 2 weeks after immunization, but no WKAH rats did. Most of the F1 rats developed mild inflammation in 3-4 weeks after immunization. A quarter of the F2 rats developed EAU within 2 weeks, half of them, in 3-6 weeks after immunization, and the others did not. These findings suggest that only one non-MHC gene controls the susceptibility to S-Ag-induced EAU in rats.