Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate
(PDTC), a nuclear factor (NF)-κB inhibitor, on cytokine expression and suppression of anterior
chamber inflammation in experimental autoimmune anterior uveitis. Uveitis was induced
in the Lewis rats with the injection of a melanin-associated antigen into the peritoneum and
footpad. At defined time points, cytokine mRNA expressions in the iris and ciliary body were
measured by using a semiquantitative polymerase chain-reaction method.
Results: We found that interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA expression
peaked during the active phase of uveitis, whereas interleukin (IL)-10 mRNA increased
during the disease resolution. In a separate experiment, PDTC (100 and 200 mg/kg/day)
was administrated intraperitoneally daily after immunization. We found that PDTC (100 and
200 mg/kg/day) effectively suppressed ocular inflammation, as indicated by reduced clinical
scores and inflammatory cells infiltration in aqueous humor and the iris and ciliary body.
Conclusions: The inhibitory effects of PDTC are mainly resulted from inhibiting the expression
of proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IFN-γ but augmenting anti-inflammatory
cytokines, IL-10 expression. These findings suggest that the application of NF-κB inhibitors
may be a potential therapeutic method for the treatment of acute anterior uveitis.
