HLA-DR antigens on retinal pigment epithelial cells from patients with uveitis
C. C. Chan, B. Detrick, R. B. Nussenblatt, A. G. Palestine, L. S. Fujikawa and J. J. Hooks
The pathogenic mechanisms involved in immunologically associated ocular
diseases are not clearly understood. To further evaluate these types of
disorders, we examined the expression of HLA-DR antigen on eye sections
from normal individuals and five patients (six eyes) with ocular
inflammation (sympathetic ophthalmia and chronic uveitis). Using
immunoperoxidase staining technique and the complement-mediated
cytotoxicity assay, we detected the presence of HLA-DR antigens on retinal
pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from uveitic eyes. In contrast, HLA-DR
antigen was not detected on RPE cells from normal ocular tissue. Our study
shows that during the course of human ocular inflammatory disorders, the
RPE cell is activated to express HLA-DR antigens. This antigen expression
may be important in the initiation and/or perpetuation of immune reactivity
in the eye.
