INTERFERON SYSTEM IN CELLULAR FUNCTION AND DISEASE

干扰素（IFN）蛋白，其可以修饰多种生物学特性， 活性，被认为是人体的调节蛋白之一。许多 研究表明IFN是有效的免疫调节剂。期间 在过去的一年里，我们一直在研究IFN蛋白质 与免疫系统的细胞和眼部的细胞相互作用 微环境 利用免疫细胞化学分析，我们已经开发了一种灵敏的方法， 鉴定该部位的淋巴因子IFN-γ和白细胞介素2（IL-2） 组织损伤我们已经确定了这些淋巴因子在炎症眼 疾病这些淋巴因子的存在与淋巴细胞 主要是T细胞来源的浸润，并表达主要的 组织相容性复合体（MHC）II类抗原对浸润性 细胞和视网膜色素上皮（RPE）细胞。 在实验上，我们已经表明，这种直接玻璃体内接种 重组大鼠IFN-γ导致MHC II类抗原的表达 (Ia)在各种眼细胞中。结合Ia表达式，两个 注意到显著的变化：虹膜炎和内部浸润细胞 视网膜层这两种现象都在某些 炎症性眼病。 已知IFN-γ是基因表达的有效调节剂。我们发现 IFN-γ增强视网膜S抗原的表达，这是一种特异性的 神经元细胞标记物。初步研究表明IFN-γ 在转录水平上。 这些观察结果表明IFN-γ诱导的MHC II类抗原 表达可作为自身免疫性疾病的局部扩增系统， 炎症性眼病。更好地理解淋巴因子的作用 参与自身免疫发展的机制， 炎症可能有益于开发这些疾病的治疗方法。

The interferon (IFN) protein, which can modify a variety of biological activities, is considered one of the body's regulatory proteins. Numerous studies have indicated that the IFNs are potent immunoregulators. During the past year, we have been studying the ways in which IFN proteins interact with cells of the immune system and with cells in the ocular microenvironment. Using immunocytochemical analysis, we have developed a sensitive method of identifying the lymphokines IFN-gamma and interleukin 2 (IL-2) at the site of tissue damage. We have identified these lymphokines in inflammatory eye diseases. The presence of these lymphokines is associated with lymphocyte infiltrate predominantly of T cell origin and with the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens on both the infiltrating cells and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Experimentally, we have shown that this direct intravitreal inoculation of recombinant rat IFN-gamma results in the expression of MHC Class II antigen (Ia) in a variety of ocular cells. In conjunction with Ia expression, two striking changes were noted: an iritis and infiltrating cells in the inner retinal layers. Both of these phenomena have been observed in certain inflammatory eye diseases. IFN-gamma is known to be a potent regulator of gene expression. We found that IFN-gamma enhances the expression of retinal S-antigen, a specific neuronal cell marker. Preliminary studies indicate this IFN-gamma is acting at the level of transcription. These observations indicate that IFN-gamma induced MHC class II antigen expression may serve as a local amplification system in autoimmune and inflammatory eye disease. A better understanding of the role of lymphokines in the mechanisms involved in the development of autoimmunity and inflammation may be beneficial in developing treatments for these diseases.