Analysis of interleukin-6 in endotoxin-induced uveitis.

The mechanisms underlying the induction of intraocular inflammation in the rat model of endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) and the subsequent development of tolerance after repeated endotoxin injections are poorly understood. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured in the aqueous humor and serum of Lewis rats after single and repeated injections of endotoxin into the footpad. After a single injection, a rise in serum and aqueous-humor levels of IL-6 was seen after 2 and 16 hr, respectively. The highest aqueous-humor level of IL-6 was seen 20 hr postinjection and was tenfold that seen in the serum sample taken at the same time, suggesting intraocular synthesis of this cytokine. Four hours later the most active uveitis and the highest total aqueous-humor protein level were observed. Repeated injection of endotoxin still resulted in a moderate but significant systemic release of IL-6 but no detectable IL-6 in the aqueous humor and the absence of uveitis. Intravitreal injection of endotoxin-free human recombinant IL-6 (10-10(5) U) in rats resulted in uveitis, resembling the ocular response to endotoxin. There appeared to be a prozone effect regarding the total aqueous-humor protein concentration. The largest amount of aqueous-humor protein was seen in the eyes injected with 10(2) U of IL-6, but increasing concentrations of intravitreal IL-6 showed a corresponding decrease in protein levels. In the fellow saline-injected eyes, a clear consensual response was observed with regard to the extravasation of protein, although the uveitic grade in these eyes was low or zero. Repeated intravitreal injection of IL-6 resulted in ocular unresponsiveness in nine of 11 rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)