Apoptosis in patients with posterior uveitis

C. C. Chan, D. M. Matteson, Q. Li, S. M. Whitcup and R. B. Nussenblatt
Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md 20892-1857, USA. ccc@helix.nih.gov

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis plays a part in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of apoptotic markers in the eyes of patients with uveitis. METHODS: With the use of immunohistochemical and in situ apoptotic detection techniques, apoptotic molecules (Fas or Fas ligand [FasL]) and nuclear DNA fragmentation were examined in 8 enucleated eyes with Behcet's disease (1), sarcoidosis (1), subretinal fibrosis and uveitis (1), sympathetic ophthalmia (4), and the Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome (1); in 5 chorioretinal biopsy specimens with acute retinal necrosis (2), multifocal choroiditis (1), sarcoidosis (1), and subretinal fibrosis and uveitis (1); and in 3 normal control eyes. RESULTS: Fas and FasL were constitutively expressed in the normal human retina, but they were expressed much less in the choroid. Increased expression of Fas and FasL was found in the retina, chorioretinal scar, and choroidal granulomas in uveitic eyes. However, Fas and FasL expression was absent in the biopsy specimens with acute retinal necrosis, and little Fas or FasL was noted on infiltrating lymphocytes. DNA fragmentation was also identified in eyes with chorioretinal scar and gliosis. CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis occurs in uveitic eyes and may play a regulatory role in limiting ocular inflammation. In uveitic eyes, a dysregulation of the Fas-FasL apoptotic pathway may lead to gliosis and fibrosis.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

The Immediate Early 2 Protein of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) Mediates the Apoptotic Control in HCMV Retinitis through Up-Regulation of the Cellular FLICE-Inhibitory Protein Expression
Chiou et al.
J. Immunol. 2006;177:6199-6206.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Inhibition of T Cell Apoptosis in the Aqueous Humor of Patients with Uveitis by IL-6/Soluble IL-6 Receptor trans-Signaling
Curnow et al.
J. Immunol. 2004;173:5290-5297.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Apoptosis in Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy
El Ghrably et al.
IOVS 2004;45:1473-1479.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Visualization of Cell Death In Vivo during Murine Endotoxin-Induced Uveitis
Yang et al.
IOVS 2003;44:1993-1997.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Role of Apoptosis in the Pathogenesis of Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy of the Cornea
Li et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:1597-1604.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Involvement of Apoptosis and Interferon-{gamma} in Murine Toxoplasmosis
Shen et al.
IOVS 2001;42:2031-2036.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Fas and Fas Ligand Expressed on Cells of the Immune System, not on the Target Tissue, Control Induction of Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis
Wahlsten et al.
J. Immunol. 2000;165:5480-5486.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

IFN-{gamma} and LPS-Mediated IL-10-Dependent Suppression of Retinal Microglial Activation
Broderick et al.
IOVS 2000;41:2613-2622.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Apoptosis is a prominent feature of acute anterior uveitis in the Fischer 344 rat
Smith et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2000;84:205-211.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Diagnosis of corticosteroid resistant ocular sarcoidosis by chorioretinal biopsy
WHITCUP et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 1999;83:501e-501.
FULL TEXT  

Fas-FasL Interaction Involved in Pathogenesis of Ocular Toxoplasmosis in Mice
Hu et al.
Infect. Immun. 1999;67:928-935.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT