Identification of a new epitope of human IRBP that induces autoimmune uveoretinitis in mice of the H-2b haplotype.

Abstract

C57BL/6 mice, 129/J and (129/JxC57BL/6)F1 mice, immunized with 200 to 300 microg of peptide, developed DTH and EAU with scores comparable to those induced by 100 microg IRBP. Their lymphocytes proliferated to the peptide and produced interferon-gamma (but not interleukin-4) and transferred EAU to syngeneic recipients. Lymphocytes of IRBP-immunized mice also responded to the peptide. Peptide 1-20-immunized B1O.RIII mice failed to develop either disease or immunologic responses. CONCLUSIONS. Human IRBP peptide 1-20 contains a major epitope for the H-2b haplotype, which is apparently not presented by the H-2r haplotype.