Orally and Nasally Induced Tolerance Studies in Ocular Inflammatory Disease: Guidance for Future Interventions

Abstract

The induction of both oral and nasal tolerance has been used in both experimental models of ocular disease and clinically. Initial work centered around the abrogation of experimental autoimmune uveitis using either one or two whole uveitogenic antigens. Other models of ocular disease have included a corneal transplant model, demonstrating that feeding splenocytes from the donor strain of rats enhanced corneal engraftment. Fragments of pertinent antigens have been shown to alter the expression of experimental uveitis and possibly human disease. A randomized, masked study in uveitis provided valuable information for future studies, demonstrating that single antigen feeding provided far better protection than the feeding of multiple antigens. This review will deal with animal and human studies in the treatment of ocular inflammatory disease with the goal of extracting from past experience how to construct a future study in humans.

Oral tolerance: Can we make it work?

“…Abrogation of experimental autoimmune uveitis in animal models was effective using either one or two whole uveitogenic antigens [135]. A randomized study in uveitis demonstrated that single antigen feeding provided far better protection than feeding of multiple antigens [135].…”

“…A randomized study in uveitis demonstrated that single antigen feeding provided far better protection than feeding of multiple antigens [135]. On the other hand, the use of oral anti-CD3 antibodies led to suppression of antigen-specific immune responses to administration of non-antigen-specific peptides [102,118 -120].…”

Age-related Macular Degeneration and the Immune Response: Implications for Therapy

“…One such strategy is vaccination against antigen driven immune responses. 82 Another approach would be the use of oral and nasal tolerance using antigens which stimulate the adoptive immune response, which has been shown to have an effect on uveitis and other disorders 83,84 and recently has been shown to have an effect on atherosclerosis. 85 Therapy could begin once large drusen and pigmentary changes are noted, since this is the hallmark of increased risk of advanced AMD.…”