Regulation of dendritic cell function by the ocular microenvironment in uveitis

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The immune system protects the individual from a large range of infections. Although the immune response is highly efficient, this can result in some damage to surrounding areas. For the majority of organs this does not present a problem. However, in certain organs any significant immune mediated damage could threaten the survival of the individual. For these organs the immune response is carefully controlled and they are described as having immune privilege. The eye is a well studied example of an organ with immune privilege. It is clear that when inflammation occurs in the eye (uveitis) this contradicts the immune privileged status, with some patients suffering severe sight-threatening disease. The aim of our research is to identify the way in which the immune response is altered in uveitis. We wish to study the changes that occur in a specific immune cell, the dendritic cell, which acts as a co-ordinator of immune responses. By identifying the changes that occur in these cells in patients with uveitis we aim to identify new therapeutic options for this potentially blinding disease.