Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of adenoviral-mediated transfer
of the interleukin (IL)-10 gene for inhibition of experimental autoimmune anterior uveitis,
a rat model of human acute anterior uveitis. Uveitis was induced in the Lewis rat by simultaneous
injection of melanin-associated antigen intraperitoneally (i.p.) and into the left footpad.
The animals were treated by systemic administration of adenoviral construct expressing
IL-10 (Ad-IL-10) or Ad-Mock carrying no cytokine transgene.
Results: A significant reduction in ocular inflammation was noted for rats that received one
or two divided i.p. administrations of Ad-IL-10 (one 10 × 109 and two 5 × 109 particles of adenoviral
construct, respectively), as judged by reduced clinical scores and decreased leukocyte
infiltration in the anterior chamber and confirmed by histological examinations, relative to
control animals. Systemic Ad-IL-10, treatment also revealed a higher serum level of IL-10,
compared to the controls.
Conclusions: The results suggest that systemic adenovirus-mediated IL-10 gene therapy has
an anti-inflammatory effect on immune-mediated ocular inflammation and that this approach
may be promising for the treatment of acute anterior uveitis.
