Summer 2008: Autoimmunity to Interphotoreceptor Retinoid Binding Protein

By Philip J. Gorecki, Robert E. Cone, Ph.D., and Rajwardhan Yadav, M.D./Ph.D. Dept. of Immunology & Connecticut Lions’ Vascular Vision Center University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Conn.

Autoimmune uveitis is a condition in which the immune response is directed against retinal antigens. Interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP) is an immunodominant antigen that stimulates T and B lymphocytes. Our aim was to characterize IRBP specific immune responses using a mouse model. IRBP and Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) were injected and a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction was measured. We observed a dose dependent response to IRBP either 24 or 48 hours post challenge (depending on the strain of mouse). Thus immunization with IRBP and adjuvant in the periphery results in generation of IRBP specific immune responses.

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