CIRCULATING ANTI-GALECTIN-1 ANTIBODIES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEVERITY OF OCULAR DISEASE IN AUTOIMMUNE AND INFECTIOUS UVEITIS

C. JUAREZ; M. ROMERO; J.C. MUIÑO; G.A. BIANCO; M. FERRERO; G. RABINOVICH; J.D. LUNA

FLORIDA, USA

Congreso; 2006 ARVO; 2006

ARVO

Circulating Anti–Galectin–1 Antibodies Are Associated With the Severity of Ocular Disease in Autoimmune and Infectious Uveitis C.P. Juarez1, M.D. Romero2, J.C. Muiño3, G.A. Bianco4, M. Ferrero2, G.A. Rabinovich4 and J.D. Luna5 1 Ophthalmology, Centro, Cordoba, Argentina 2 Laboratory of Immunopathology, LIIDO, Cordoba, Argentina 3 Inmunology, Division Medicina III, Faculty of Medical Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Argentina 4 Immunogenetics, 1Division of Immunogenetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina 5 Ophthalmology, Fundación Ver, Cordoba, Argentina Commercial Relationships: C.P. Juarez, None; M.D. Romero, None; J.C. Muiño, None; G.A. Bianco, None; M. Ferrero, None; G.A. Rabinovich, None; J.D. Luna, None. Support: Agencia de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICT 2003–05–13787), University of Buenos Aires (M091), Wellcome Trust, Fundación Sales, Fundación Antorchas and Mizutani Foundation for Glycoscience to Abstract Purpose: Recent evidence indicates that galectin–1 (Gal–1), an endogenous lectin found at sites of immune privilege, plays critical roles on immunoregulation. Therapeutic administration of Gal–1 or its genetic delivery suppresses inflammation in experimental models of autoimmunity including arthritis and uveitis. However, the impact of Gal–1 in chronic inflammation has not yet been explored in clinical settings. To investigate the occurrence of circulating anti–Gal–1 antibodies in patients with autoimmune and infectious uveitis as potential determinant factors of disease progression. Methods:IgG, IgE and IgA anti–Gal–1 antibodies were assessed by ELISA and Western blot in sera from patients with autoimmune (n=47) and infectious (n=15) uveitis compared to healthy controls (n=30). The frequency of anti–Gal–1 antibodies was examined in patients experiencing progressive or benign evolution. The ability of anti–Gal–1 antibodies to recognize retinal tissue was assessed by ELISA, Western blot and immunohistochemistry following elution of specific antibodies from nitrocellulose filters previously adsorbed with recombinant Gal–1 and further incubated with patient sera. Results:IgE, IgG and IgA anti–Gal–1 antibodies were increased in sera from patients with autoimmune uveitis (p<0.001 vs controls), and in toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (p< 0.001). The frequency of anti–Gal–1 IgE and IgG antibodies was associated with progressive disease and poor outcome in autoimmune and infectious uveitis. Furthermore, anti–Gal–1 antibodies strongly immunoreacted with retinal cell lysates and recognized several retinal structures mainly photoreceptors and pigment epithelium in retinal sections. Conclusions: Anti–retinal Gal–1 antibodies are associated with the progression of ocular disease, suggesting their potential use for the follow–up of patients with uveitis. Key Words: uveitis-clinical/animal model • uvea • autoimmune disease © 2006, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. For permission to reproduce any part of this abstract, contact the ARVO Office at arvo@arvo.org.