EFFECT OF LIGHT ON THE OCULAR IMMUNE RESPONSE

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DESCRIPTION (adapted from applicant's abstract): Injection antigen into the anterior chamber (AC) of the eye results in a unique pattern of immune responses known as Anterior Chamber Associated Immune Deviation (ACAID), in which antigen-specific suppressor T-cells (Ts-cells) inhibit systemic delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH). By using dark-reared and light-reared mice (Balb/c) it was previously demonstrated that visible light has a direct effect on this intraocular immune reaction. If light is prevented from reaching the eye by dark-rearing, by placing light reared animals in the dark post AC injection, or by closing the eyelid of light-reared animals in the dark post AC injection, or by closing the eyelid of light-reared animals post AC injection suppression is abolished. Further, it was shown that visible and not ultraviolet or infrared light is responsible for the observed effects. The effect of light was an ocular event and was not developmentally mandated as is visual development, but inducible in adult dark-reared animals. These results showed that there is active intraocular T-cell regulation which prevents suppression in the absence of light. The purpose of this proposal is to further define the cellular and molecular events in the effect of visible light on intraocular immune reactions. The applicant would determine the wavelength responsible for inducing suppressed DTH in order to get an action spectrum that might reflect the nature of the molecular mediators in the effect. He would determine if altering the light/dark conditions changes the distribution and expression in the eye of class I, class II, and other molecules relevant to the immune response (CD4, Thy-1, LCA). He would analyze the regulatory cells induced following AC injection and removal of light from the eyes since these cells are capable of blocking the activity of Ts-cells. Further studies would determine the role of oxygen reactive compounds, neurotransmitters, and neuropeptides play in the light/dark regulation of intraocular immune reactions. The investigator believes that these studies have important implications for understanding intraocular immune responses and possibly the treatment of eye disease.