Endotoxin induced Uveitis

Uveitis is a multifactorial disease that causes severe visual defects and vision loss.  The underlying etiology of the disease can be difficult to decipher, but uveitis is can be broadly categorized as resulting from autoimmunity or infection.  While inflammation is a common component of all uveitis subtypes, the pathogenesis, ocular symptoms, and treatment options can differ greatly depending on the underlying cause.

We utilize endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) in mice to model non-autoimmune uveitis.  In this model, systemic administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) results in an acute form of uveitis that manifests primary in the anterior portion of the eye.   Disease severity can be assessed by clinical scoring, RPE-flatmount quantification of macrophage infiltration, quantification of immune cell infiltration into the vitreous by OCT, and histological evaluation.