Involvement of TNF α, IL-1β and IL-1 Receptor Antagonist in LPS-induced Rabbit Uveitis

The objective of the study was to investigate involvement of TNFα, IL-1β and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced uveitis. Intravitreal injection of LPS (100 ng) to rabbits induced a massive leukocyte infiltration and protein leakage into the aqueous humor. Aqueous leukocyte counts and protein levels reached a peak 24 hr after this injection. The peak concentrations of aqueous TNFα (230±37 pg ml-1, at 9 hr) and IL-1β (185±80 pg ml-1, at 18 hr) preceded peak levels of aqueous leukocyte counts and protein levels. In contrast, the levels of aqueous IL-1Ra peaked at 48 hr (12239±1964 pg ml-1) and a fairly high concentration of IL-1Ra remained when the inflammatory reactions subsided. Immunohistochemistry and leukocyte-depletion studies showed that infiltrating leukocytes were the major cellular sources of aqueous TNFα, IL-1β and IL-1Ra. Intravitreal injection of homologous TNFα (0.1–1.5 μg) or IL-1β (0.5–5 ng) reproduced a rapid leukocyte infiltration and protein leakage. Administration of anti-TNFα mAb (10 μg) suppressed the number of LPS-induced infiltrating neutrophils by 50%, mononuclear cells by 58%, and protein leakage by 42%. Administration of rabbit IL-1Ra (10 μg) also suppressed neutrophil influx by 78%, however, neither mononuclear cell influx nor protein leakage was inhibited by rabbit IL-1Ra. Co-administration of the two inhibitors enhanced inhibition of neutrophil infiltration to 88%, and protein leakage to 64%. We conclude that TNFα and IL-1β are the principal mediators of LPS-induced uveitis. Our observations also suggest that endogenous IL-1Ra may down-regulate inflammatory reactions.