Neopterin levels and immune response in autoimmune uveitis in an experiment.

Abstract

Purpose: To study and compare the immune response and neopterin levels in the blood in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU).

Methods: A model of EAU was created in 30 Chinchilla rabbits. Intravenous and intravitreal injections of normal horse serum were administered for this purpose. Clinical examinations and blood tests were conducted on days 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21. The blood investigation included the determination of neopterin (NP) level, counts of white blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes (Lymphs), CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD16+.

Results: The peak in WBC count was observed on Days 7 and 10 (6.4 ± 0.4 g/l, 6.0 ± 0.3 g/l), Lymphs- on Day 3 (68.3±2.4 %, 3,0±0.2 g/l), CD3+ - on Day 7 (64.9±3.1%, 2232.5±91.2 cells/µL), CD4+ and CD16+ - on Day 10 (21.8±1.8%, 691.2±37.1 cells/µL). All these values did not return to the initial ones. There was a gradual decrease in the CD8+ count from Day 3 (12.5±1.1%, 142.8±9.1 cells/µL) with a subsequent gradual return towards normal levels by Day 21. NP level was incresed on Day 3 (5.2 ± 0.7 nmol/l), was sustained on Day 7 (5.2 ± 0.8 nmol/l) and started to decrease from Day 10 (4.25 ± 1.7 nmol/l) to 2.3 ± 0.5 nmol/l on Day 21. Also the highest correlation was observed for r (clinical manifestations/NP) = 0.80 (95% CI: 0.72-0.86), which was significantly stronger (p < 0.05) than the correlations with other immune response markers.

Conclusion: During the modeling of EAU, there is an active immune response and a rapid reaction of NP on inflammation. NP is a significantly more sensitive marker of intraocular inflammation than the immune response. It can serve as a predictor of the onset and development of EAU.