No Evidence for Circulating Retina Specific Autoreactive T-cells in Latent Tuberculosis-associated Uveitis and Sarcoid Uveitis

Purpose : To detect circulating retina-specific autoreactive CD4 + T-cells and antiretinal antibodies (ARA) in latent tuberculosis (TB)-associated uveitis or sarcoid uveitis patients. Methods : The presence of crude retinal extract (RE) autoreactive CD4 + T-cells was determined by a highly sensitive flowcytometric-based technique examining co-expression of CD25 and CD134 (OX40) on RE stimulated PBMC. The presence of ARA in available matched serum samples was assessed by indirect immunofluorescence. Results : No autoreactive CD4 + T-cells against RE could be detected in either latent TB-associated uveitis or sarcoid uveitis patients, while ARA were detected in the serum of the majority (5/6) of latent TB-associated uveitis and all (3/3) sarcoid uveitis patients. Conclusion : Even with the use of this highly sensitive flowcytometric technique circulating retina-specific autoreactive CD4 + T-cells could not be detected. In contrast, ARA were detected in the majority of patients indicating an adaptive humoral immune response toward retinal antigens had occurred.