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Home » NEI Laboratories » Laboratory of Immunology > Immunopathology Section > Immunopathology, Samples
Immunopathology Section

Ocular inflammatory models

Ocular tumor model

Genetic targeted models with ocular findings

Endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU)

Subcutaneous injection of a sublethal dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can induce an acute, anterior uveitis (iridocyclitis) in certain animal species including rats, mice, and rabbits. The histopathology of EIU is characterized by a transient but intense acute inflammatory cellular infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, as well as protein accumulation in the anterior chamber and mild posterior vitritis. EIU usually peaks at 18-24 hours after LPS injection and lasts for 72 hours. Various cytokines and chemokines released by the infiltrating cells, such as TNF-alpha, INF-gamma, TGF-beta, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, CCL2, CCL5, and inflammatory mediators are important in the development and modulation of EIU. T cells also play a role in EIU. Multiple genetic factors influence the susceptibility and magnitude of the response to LPS, including (non-histocompatibility) genetic background, the LPS response gene, and the presence of mast cells. EIU has become a useful model for the study of acute and subacute anterior ocular inflammation in humans.

Photomicrograph of endotoxin-induced
uveitis (EIU) in the C3H/HeN mouse
Healthy anterior segment Image of healthy anterior segment
Anterior segment of mouse with EIU

Note inflammatory cells adhering to cornea and iris		 Image of anterior segment of mouse with EIU

This page was last modified in November 2006