Pinealitis coincident with recurrent uveitis: immunohistochemical studies

Abstract

Although experimental models of autoimmune uveitis predict pinealitis coincident with uveitis, there is no direct evidence of pineal pathology accompanying a human uveitis. Horses with naturally occurring uveitis are a potential source of eye and pineal tissues that are not available from human patients with active uveitis. We have observed pinealitis in a mare with equine recurrent uveitis. By immunohistochemistry we demonstrated immunoglobulin and MHC Class II antigen on infiltrating and resident cells of eye and pineal gland. These results support the relevance of the animal models and suggest that pinealitis may be coincident with some human uveitides.