Autoimmune dacryoadenitis and sialadenitis induced in rabbits by intravenous injection of autologous lymphocytes activated ex vivo against lacrimal antigens.

Purpose: Autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes, activated in a mixed cell reaction when cocultured with purified rabbit lacrimal epithelial cells, are known to induce a severe autoimmune dacryoadenitis when injected directly into the donor animal's remaining inferior lacrimal gland (LG) or subcutaneously at a site remote from the LG. The purpose of the present study was to determine the ability of intravenously (IV) injected autologous stimulated lymphocytes to home to the LG and salivary gland (SG) and induce disease.

Methods: One inferior LG was surgically excised from each rabbit.

Distinct dacryoadenitides autoadoptively transferred to rabbits by different subpopulations of lymphocytes activated ex vivo.

Purpose: To test whether CD4+ T cells proliferate in mixed cell reactions with autologous lacrimal gland (LG) acinar cells and whether these cells can autoadoptively transfer disease.

Methods: Purified acinar cells were gamma irradiated and cocultured with peripheral blood lymphocytes. Activated CD4+ T cells were sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).

Adeno-associated virus-mediated IL-10 gene transfer suppresses lacrimal gland immunopathology in a rabbit model of autoimmune dacryoadenitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated viral (v)IL-10 gene expression on lacrimal gland (LG) immunopathology and ocular surface disease in a rabbit model of induced autoimmune dacryoadenitis (ID).

Methods: Autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes, activated in a mixed-cell reaction when cocultured with purified rabbit lacrimal epithelial cells, induce a Sjögren's-like autoimmune dacryoadenitis when injected directly back into the donor animal's inferior LG. Four weeks after disease induction, AAV vector expressing the vIL-10 gene under control of a tetracycline-inducible promoter was injected into the inferior LG of the treatment group (ID/Rx), and doxycycline was fed orally to induce transgene expression.

Long-term topical cyclosporine treatment improves tear production and reduces keratoconjunctivitis in rabbits with induced autoimmune dacryoadenitis.

Purpose: To use a rabbit model of induced autoimmune dacryoadenitis to evaluate the efficacy of topical ophthalmic cyclosporine A (CsA).

Methods: Autoimmune dacryoadenitis was induced by injecting autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes, which had been activated in a mixed cell reaction with acinar cells isolated from one inferior lacrimal gland (LG), back into the donor animal's remaining inferior LG. Schirmer's test, tear breakup time, and rose Bengal staining were assessed.

Microporous poly(L-lactic acid) membranes fabricated by polyethylene glycol solvent-cast/particulate leaching technique.

With the eventual goal of developing a tissue-engineered tear secretory system, we found that primary lacrimal gland acinar cells grown on solid poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) supports expressed the best histiotypic morphology. However, to be able to perform vectorial transport functions, epithelia must be supported by a permeable substratum. In the present study, we describe the use of a solvent-cast/particulate leaching technique to fabricate microporous PLLA membranes (mpPLLAm) from PLLA/polyethylene glycol blends.

Behavioral evaluation of visual function of rats using a visual discrimination apparatus.

A visual discrimination apparatus was developed to evaluate the visual sensitivity of normal pigmented rats (n=13) and S334ter-line-3 retinal degenerate (RD) rats (n=15). The apparatus is a modified Y maze consisting of two chambers leading to the rats' home cage. Rats were trained to find a one-way exit door leading into their home cage, based on distinguishing between two different visual alternatives (either a dark background or black and white stripes at varying luminance levels) which were randomly displayed on the back of each chamber.