PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta;) on endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU). METHODS: TGF- beta; was abstracted from humam platelets using Bio-gel P-60 chromatography. It was introduced either topically(drops) or intraperitoneally into the SD rats after footpad injection of lipopolysaccbaride(LPS). The inflammation in the anterior uvea was clinically evaluated with slitlamp every day. RESULTS :TGF-beta; obtained from Biogel P-60 chromatography displayed single band on SDS-PAGE,showing a molecular weight of 12 500 EIU occurs significantly earlier and more severe in the rats which only received LPS injection than in the TGF-beta; treated rats. The duration of the inflammation was also much longer in the untreated rats than in the treated rats (P＜0. 001). CONCLUSION: TGF-beta; purified from human platelets may partly prevent the development of EIU and effectively reduce the severity of the inflammation induced by LPS injection. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1996,12: 101-104)
Among 21 cases (27 eyes)of complicated cataract of uveitis that underwent surgery of cataract extraction, 22 eyes (81%) attained the visual acuity of 0.1 or better without apparent side-effect. The results indicated that cataract extraction is recommendable to improve visual acuity and alleviate intraocular inflammation in some eases of complicated cataract of uveltis accompanied with relatively high doage of cortical steroid therapy before and after operation,and the operation could be performed even flare and cells in aqueous humor or keratic precipitates were observed. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1994,10:162-164）
Objective To observe the clinical features, the complications and treatment effects of intermediate uveitis. Methods The clinical data of 36 patients (66 eyes) with intermediate uveitis were retrospectively analyzed，including the clinical features, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) features, complications，treatment effects and prognosis. The patients, 21 males and 15 females, aged from 8 to 70 years，with the mean age of 34.8 years. There were 30 cases with bilateral lesions and 6 cases with unilateral lesions. Results The main clinical manifestation were vitreous opacity, peripheral retinal venous lesions, optic disc edema, macular edema and posterior subcapsular cataract. The results of FFA showed that peripheral retinal venous lesions, optic disc hyperfluorescence, cystoid macular edema and retinal vein staining. After the treatment, the visual acuity of 31 cases（60 eyes，90.9%) were improved, 4 cases（5 eyes，7.6%) were stable and 1 case（1 eye，1.5%) was worsening. The main complications were cystoid macular edema, posterior subcapsular cataract and vitreous hemorrhage which leads to visual damage. Conclusions Intermediate uveitis was a common bilateral and chronic progressive intraocular inflammation，the anterior vitritis, pars plana and peripheral retinal vascular changes were mainly involved. Early diagnosis and proper treatment may prevent the permanent visual damage.
Objective To observe the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), its tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and contents of nitric oxide (NO) in the ocular tissues of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with endotoxin induced uveitis（EIU）. Methods Ninety SD rats were randomly divided into experimental (81 rats) and control group (9 rats). The model of EIU was induced in rats in experimental group by injecting with lipoplysaccharide (LPS) 200 μl into the hind feet pads, while the rats in the control group were not injected. Nine rats were executed 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96 hours and 7 days, respectively, after injecting with LPS; the NO content and concentration of protein in the aqueous humor in blood plasma, aqueous humor, and uveal tissues were detected. The expressions of MMP-9, TIMP-1 and iNOS in the ocular tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the average absorbance (A) value was evaluated by computer medical image analysis system. Results iNOS, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expressed in the epithelial cells of iris and ciliary body and exudated inflammatory cells of rats. The concentration of protein in the aqueous humor, the contents of NO in blood plasma, aqueous humor, and uveal tissues, and A value of MMP-9 had obvious relativity with the inflammatory extent, while no positive correlation was found between the inflammatory extent and the A value of iNOS and TIMP-1. Expression of iNOS was found 6 hours after injection, reached the peak after 12 hours, and then dropped gradually. The expression of TIMP-1 could be seen 24 hours after injection, and reached its peak after 72 hours. Conclusion The content of NO and expressions of iNOS, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 changes from the beginning and during the development of EIU, which suggests that NO, iNOS, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 are involved in the pathologic process of EIU. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005, 21: 371-374)
Purpose To investigate whether experimental autoimmune uveitis can be induced equally in different rats by urea soluble fraction of bovine melanin-associated antigen(USF-BMAA),and,if so,difference among them. Methods Lewis rats,F344 rats,Wistar rats were immunized with USF-BMAA emulsified with complete Freud is adijuvant and Bordelella pertussis to induce experimental autoimmune uveitis.The animal models were investigated clinically and histopathologically and compared with each other. Rusults Experimental autoimmune uveitis could be induced in Lewis rats,F344 rats and Wistar rats with US-BMAA.Clinical and histopathalogical examination showed that bilateral ocular inflammation developed after immunization 9-13 days.Although inflammation was mainly located in anterior uvea,a mild focal choroiditis was noted in those with severe anterior inflammation.No inflammation was observed in the retina and pineal gland.Experimental autoimmune uveieis induced with USF-BMAA was similar to experimental autoimmune anterior uveitis incited with BMAA presented by other authors.Inflammation induced with USF-BMAA in F344 rats and in Lewis rats was quite similar in the severity and course of the model.But the inflammation was less in Wistar rats compared with that in Lewis rats and F344 rats. Conclusion Experimental autoimmune anterior uveitis was successfully induced with USF-BMAA in Lewis rats,F344 rats and Wistar rats.The difference with regard to the severity among these aminals were propably attributed to their genetic bankground. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1998,14:149-152)
PURPOSE:To investigate and changes of the retina and the chorid induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)in Lewis rats and to compare the results obtained on tissue wholemounts and sections. METHODS:Immunohistochemistry was carried out both on wholemounts of the retina and the chorid-sclera complex and on ocular sections from normal Lewis rats and those after LPS injection. RESULTS:It was shown on the tissue wholemounts that monocytes were attached to retinal blood vessels and emigrated into the choroid as early as 4hrs after LPS injection. Severe involvement of the retina and macrophages into whole area of these tissues.Furthermore increasing number of major histocompatibility complex classⅡ(MHC classⅡ)positive cells was observed in the choroid.The results on tissue sections revealed that the retina and the choroid were both involved as videnced by infiltration of these cells at some time points after LPS injection. CONCLUSION:Wholemount technique provides undoubtful evidences to show that the retina and choroid are primarily and severely involuted after LPS injection.The endotoxin induced uveitis is,for the first time,presumed to be model for human generalized uveitis. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1996,12:33-36）
Noninfectious uveitis refers to a category of inflammatory diseases involving the uvea, vitreous, optic disk and retina, with the exception of infectious factors or masquerade syndrome. These kind of blinding diseases are frequently recurrent, and the diagnosis and follow-up require fundus imaging techniques. OCT angiography (OCTA) is a rapid, noninvasive and quantifiable blood flow imaging modality that provides a depiction of the microvasculature morphology of the retinal and choroidal through different segmentation and detects the abnormal blood perfusion as well as the neovascularization. OCTA plays an important role in the diagnosis, assessment and follow-up for anterior uveitis, posterior uveitis and pan-uveitis such as Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, Behçet’s disease, ocular sarcoidosis, birdshot chorioretinopathy, serpiginous choroiditis, multifocal choroiditis, punctate inner choroidopathy, acute zonal occult outer retinopathy, acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy, multiple evanescent white dot syndrome, and also provides clue about their pathophysiologic mechanisms.
Objective To investigate the features and main reasons of blindness induced by uveitis in China. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the data from 1214 patients with uveitis, referring to Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, with special respect to the incidence of blindness in different uveitis entities, the characteristics of blindness, and possible causes for the blindness. Results In the affected 1892 eyes of 1214 patients with uveitis, 355 eyes (18.83%) were blind. The mean age at the onset of blindness was 34.38 years and the gender ratio of male to female was 1.52:1. The blindness led by panuveitis was found in 248 eyes (26.27%), including 128 (51.61%) and 73 (29.44%) blind eyes caused by Behcet’s disease and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. Complicated cataract, vitreous opacity and secondary glaucoma were responsible for the blindness of the patients with panuveitis［89(35.89%), 53 (21.37%), and 30 eyes (12.10%), respectively］. Blindness caused by anterior uveitis was noted in 79 eyes (10.73%) with the main reasons of complicated cataract ［56 eyes (70.89%)］and secondary glaucoma［16 eyes (20.25%)］, posterior uveitis in 15 eyes (15.63%) with the main reason of vitreous opacity ［9 eyes (60.00%)］, macular diseases in 3 eyes (20.00%), intermediate uveitis in 13 eyes (11.21%) with the main reasons of vitreous opacity［8 eyes (61.54%)］, and complicated cataract in 5 eyes (38.46%). Conclusions Uveitis is one of the important causes leading to blindness, especially in the young adults. Panuveitis, especially Behcet’s disease and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, are the most common entities responsible for blindness in patients with uveitis. Complicated cataract and secondary glaucoma are the main causes of blindness in uveitis. (Chin J O cul Fundus Dis, 2005, 21: 350-352)
Glucocorticoids (GCS) are the main treatment for non-infectious uveitis (NIU). However, long-term GCS treatment may induce systemic side effects including hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes. Patients may develop cataract, ocular hypertension or glaucoma because of topical application of GCS. Rapamycin (RAPA) exhibits immunosuppressive, antiangiogenic and antiproliferative effects. Animal experiments and clinical trials have shown that RAPA has therapeutic potential for NIU, especially the treatment of intravitreal injection. In particular, intravitreal injection of RAPA can result in minimal systemic exposure and reduce adverse events. Meanwhile, systemic unwanted effects should be concerned about. In recent years, some studies have attempted to employ nanostructured carriers to improve penetrating abilities of RAPA and efficacy of treatment for ocular posterior segment diseases. These carriers include micelles, liposomes, nanocrystals, polymeric nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles and so on. Whether they can load RAPA for treating NIU deserves further study and exploration.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of costimulatory molecules( B7，CD28, and CTLA-4) of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with Behcet′s disease(BD).MethodsLymphocytes were obtained in 24 patients with BD and 20 healthy individuals, and the expression of CD80(B7-1), CD86(B7-2), CD28 and CTLA-4 on T and B cells were detected by direct three-color immunofluorescence flow cytometry.ResultsSignificantly increased expression of CTLA-4 on CD 4+ T cells[(3.18±1.18)%]was found in BD patients compared with that in controls[(1.73±0.66) %](t=－3.722,P＜0.01). The expression of CD86 on CD19+B cells was also significantly increased in BD patients[(4.49±1.73)%]compared with that in controls[(2.40±1.49) %] (t=-2.071,P＜0.05). No significant difference in the expression of the other costimulatory molecules was found.ConclusionsInteraction of B7 and CD28 on peripheral lymphocytes promote the occurrence of uveitis in BD patients. Intervention with these costimulatory signals may lead to a new prevention or treatment for uveitis patients.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2003,19:357-359)