Fig. 4

Ocular-systemic interaction study. T cells in the spleen mediate a tolerogenic response to retinal antigens by IL10 and TGF-B1 secreting Tregs. Spleen mononuclear cells stimulated with self-retinal antigens displayed higher CD4 + Th response in rd1 while control displayed higher Foxp3 + Treg response (A). The stimulated mononuclear anti-inflammatory cytokine profile of rd1 displayed lower secretion of IL10 and TGF-B11 than control (B). MCP1 secretion was higher in rd1 peripheral circulation despite lower TNFα levels, indicating monocytic activation in absence of systemic inflammation (C). CD4+ Th cells and monocytes levels were higher in the peripheral system of rd1 indicating cellular specific activation (C). Slightly elevated levels of MCP1 and significantly higher number of monocytes of M2 origin was observed in RP patients’ peripheral circulation (D). Monocytes (E) and T cells (F) infiltrate the immune privileged retina of rd1 as seen by IHC and flow cytometry study of infiltrating peripheral immune cells in rd1 retina (G)