The long-term goal of this research is to design immunologic interventions to prevent onchocercal interstitial keratitis. We have used a murine model to study the role of cytokines in this disease. BALB/c mice sensitized repeatedly with soluble Ags of O. volvulus (OvAg) develop a strong Th2 response and keratitis following intrastromal challenge. Corneal pathology is dependent on Ag-specific T cells since athymic nu/nu mice do not develop these lesions, whereas reconstitution with spleen cells from OvAg-sensitized euthymic mice results in corneal pathology. Administration of IL-12 to helminth-sensitized mice enhances Th1 reactivity, concomitant with suppression of established Th2 responses. Examination of several recombinant Onchocerca Ags that are potential vaccine candidates indicates that Ov33 and RAL2 recall Th2 responses by lymphoid cells from OvAg-sensitized mice.
The specific aims are to: 1. Define the role of Th2 CD4+ cells and cytokines in the pathogenesis of onchocercal keratitis. The pattern of cytokine mRNAs and their cellular sources in the corneal stroma of mice with keratitis will be determined by RT-PCR. The causal role of Th2 cells will be ascertained by depletion of IL-4 in vivo and adoptive transfer of Ag- specific Th1 and Th2 cells. 2. Determine whether downregulation of established Th2 responses by counterregulatory cytokines inhibits development of interstitial keratitis. Prior to intrastromal challenge, mice with established Th2 responses to OvAg or recombinant Ag (Ov33 or RAL2) will be treated with rIL-12 or anti-IL-10 Ab to shift the balance of Th subset responses to Th1. 3. Examine whether vaccination with selected recombinant Ags combined with Th1-promoting cytokine IL-12 inhibits Th2-mediated corneal pathology. These experiments will determine whether establishment of strong Th1 responses to Ov33 or RAL2 prior to exposure to OvAg prevents development of keratitis. Results of these studies will contribute to the design of anti-pathology vaccines and cytokine-based therapy of onchocercal keratitis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI035938-04
Application #
2429421
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (SRC (40))
Project Start
1994-09-01
Project End
1999-05-31
Budget Start
1997-06-01
Budget End
1999-05-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Case Western Reserve University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
077758407
City
Cleveland
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
44106
Pearlman, E; Hall, L R; Higgins, A W et al. (1998) The role of eosinophils and neutrophils in helminth-induced keratitis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 39:1176-82
Pearlman, E (1997) Immunopathology of onchocerciasis: a role for eosinophils in onchocercal dermatitis and keratitis. Chem Immunol 66:26-40
Bardenstein, D S; Lass, J H; Kazura, J W et al. (1997) Pleomorphism of stromal eosinophils in murine experimental onchocercal keratitis. Ocul Immunol Inflamm 5:157-63
Pearlman, E; Lass, J H; Bardenstein, D S et al. (1997) IL-12 exacerbates helminth-mediated corneal pathology by augmenting inflammatory cell recruitment and chemokine expression. J Immunol 158:827-33
Pearlman, E; Diaconu, E; Hazlett Jr, F E et al. (1997) Identification of an epitope of a recombinant Onchocerca volvulus protein that induces corneal pathology. Mol Biochem Parasitol 89:123-35
Pearlman, E; Lass, J H; Bardenstein, D S et al. (1996) Onchocerca volvulus-mediated keratitis: cytokine production by IL-4-deficient mice. Exp Parasitol 84:274-81
Pearlman, E; Lass, J H; Bardenstein, D S et al. (1995) Interleukin 4 and T helper type 2 cells are required for development of experimental onchocercal keratitis (river blindness). J Exp Med 182:931-40