Lymphokine-induced MHC class II antigen expression on cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells and the influence of cyclosporin A

Abstract

Culture of rat or guinea-pig retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells with Con A-induced lymphokine derived from splenic lymphocytes or rat recombinant IFN-gamma induces strong MHC class II (Ia) antigen expression on up to 40% of RPE cells. Cyclosporin A, which inhibits intravitreal inflammation and Ia antigen expression on RPE cells in vivo, despite a choroidal T-cell infiltrate, suppresses production of Ia-inducing lymphokine but does not suppress in vitro responses of RPE cells to preformed lymphokine.