A new effective and non-harmful chemical adjuvant for the induction of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis

Abstract

The induction of T cell mediated disease models in animals is usually dependent on the use of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). In order to avoid the painful side effects of CFA on the animals, we tested the capacity to induce experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) with Hunter's adjuvant (HA). This new adjuvant makes use of nonionic copolymer surfactants, and does not cause deleterious effects to animals. We have found that EAU could be efficiently induced in rats with low doses of S-Ag (10 ug) in very small quantity of HA (10 u.l). The biologic parameters of EAU induction showed a potent stimulation of lymphocytes proliferation maximal 11 days after immunization, as well as high levels of antibody production.