methylcellulose and Uveitis

Autoimmune uveitis refers to several intraocular inflammation conditions, which are mediated by autoreactive T cells. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are immunosuppressive cells that have shown potential for resolving various autoimmune diseases, including uveitis. However, poor donor cell dispersion distal to the injection site and plasticity of Treg cells in an inflammatory microenvironment can present obstacles for this immunotherapy. We assessed the use of a physical blend of hyaluronan and methylcellulose (HAMC) as immunoprotective and injectable hydrogel cell delivery system to improve the efficacy of Treg-based therapy in treating experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU). We demonstrated that the Treg-HAMC blend increased both the survival and stability of Tregs under proinflammatory conditions. Furthermore, we found that the intravitreal HAMC delivery system resulted in a two-fold increase in the number of transferred Tregs in the inflamed eye of EAU mice. Treg-HAMC delivery effectively attenuated ocular inflammation and preserved the visual function of EAU mice. It significantly decreased the number of ocular infiltrates, including the uveitogenic IFN-γ

Topics: Animals; Eye; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Hydrogels; Inflammation; Methylcellulose; Mice; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Uveitis

The causes of fibrinous uveitis after cataract surgery are unclear, but surface modification of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is known to influence post-operative inflammation. One hundred twenty-five patients were entered into a prospective investigation designed to assess the effect of intraoperative surface modification of PMMA, by coating with a 2% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose solution, on the incidence of fibrinous uveitis after extracapsular cataract surgery and lens implantation.. Of the 125 patients entered into this prospective study, 90 received pretreatment with a 1% indomethacin solution.. Fibrinous uveitis developed in 18(33%) of 54 eyes with dry lens implantation and in 1 (3%) of 36 eyes with coated lens implantation (P less than 0.005). Thirty-five eyes were not pretreated with indomethacin, and fibrin formation occurred in 6 (30%) of 20 dry implanted eyes and in 0 of 15 eyes with coated lens implantation (S = 0.02).. Intraoperative modification of the PMMA surface of an intraocular lens during implantation significantly reduces the severity of postoperative inflammation, as manifest by the incidence of fibrinous uveitis.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cataract Extraction; Female; Fibrin; Humans; Hypromellose Derivatives; Incidence; Indomethacin; Lenses, Intraocular; Male; Methylcellulose; Methylmethacrylate; Methylmethacrylates; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Surface Properties; Uveitis; Visual Acuity