Eye‐Mediated Induction of Specific Immune Tolerance to Encephalitogenic Antigens

Summary Aims Administration of antigens into the anterior chamber ( AC ) of the eye induces a form of antigen‐specific immune tolerance termed anterior chamber‐associated immune deviation ( ACAID ). This immune tolerance effectively impairs host delayed‐type hypersensitivity ( DTH ) responses. We hypothesized that ACAID could be generated in BALB /c mice following AC inoculation of the encephalitogenic antigens myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein ( MOG ) and myelin basic protein ( MBP ). Methods We used DTH assays and local adoptive transfer ( LAT ) assays to test whether MOG / MBP ‐induced ACAID following their administration into the AC , whether they elicited this immune tolerance via CD 8 + T cells, and whether their AC coadministration ( MOG / MBP ) induced specific immune tolerance to one or both antigens. Results We showed that MOG / MBP ‐induced AC ‐mediated specific immune tolerance, as evident from impaired DTH responses. This antigen‐driven DTH suppression was solely mediated via splenic CD 8 + T cells as confirmed by LAT assays. Finally, a single AC injection with both antigens was sufficient to induce specific immune tolerance to these antigens, as evident from DTH and LAT assays. Conclusion ACAID T ‐cell regulation could be used as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of complicated autoimmune diseases that involve multiple antigens such as multiple sclerosis.