Citation

The aim of this work was to gain new knowledge about mechanisms of autoimmune uveitis and to test new therapeutic possibilities that have not yet been studied in uveitis or whose effect is questionable. The main emphasis was placed on the role of microorganisms in the process of uveitis. A mouse model of experimental autoimmune uveitis including a germ-free model was used to achieve the aims and samples of patients’ intraocular fluids were analyzed. In the experimental model, the intensity of inflammation was evaluated in vivo clinically and post mortem histologically. The effect of immunomodulatory treatment was evaluated. The intensity of inflammation was compared between groups of germfree and conventional mice. The therapeutic effect of antibiotics administered to affect microbiome was investigated in conventional mice. In intraocular fluid samples of patients with autoimmune uveitis signs of infection were monitored and levels of cytokines and other factors were evaluated. Evaluation of the effect of immunomodulatory therapy has demonstrated the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil, which supports its wider use in the treatment of autoimmune posterior uveitis in human medicine. The decrease in bacterial load has led to a decrease in the intensity of inflammation, thereby confirming the importance of microorganisms in the process of autoimmune uveitis in both germ-free and conventional antibiotic-treated mice. The results of intraocular fluid analysis support the hypothesis of the effect of infection on the induction of autoimmune uveitis. The results obtained could initiate further research in this area and achieve a targeted regulation of the factors causing autoimmune uveitis, thereby reducing the percentage of blindness due to uveitis.