Suppression or exacerbation of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis in Lewis rats by pretreatment with or without an autoantigenic peptide in aluminum hydroxide.

PURPOSE Aluminum hydroxide (Al) is an adjuvant to induce Th2 immune responses. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of pretreatment with Al on experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU), a Th1 disease model. METHODS Lewis rats were pretreated with an uveitogenic peptide (#29)/Al, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)/Al or PBS. EAU was then induced by immunization of #29 in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) with intravenous injection of Bordetella pertussis. Three weeks later, EAU was evaluated histologically and antigen-specific cellular immune responses were assessed. RESULTS EAU was exacerbated in the PBS/Al group and attenuated in the #29/Al group, compared to the control PBS group. Antigen-specific cellular proliferation and interferon-gamma production were augmented in the PBS/Al group and suppressed in the #29/Al group. CONCLUSIONS Suppression or exacerbation of EAU by the pretreatment in this study is related to inhibition or augmentation of antigen-specific Th1 immunity.