Immune Relevant Models for Ocular Inflammatory Diseases.

This research paper examines the need for immune-relevant animal models to test new therapeutic options for common ocular inflammatory diseases like dry eye and uveitis, aiming to recognize the most beneficial models to transfer treatments to humans.

Overview of the Research

The research is set against the backdrop of ocular inflammatory diseases, namely dry eye and uveitis. Due to the limitations and side effects of using anti-inflammatory drugs, like corticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, the development of alternate, safer treatment methods has gained urgency.

• These methods mainly focus on the treatment of inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases of the eye, which need to be tested effectively and safely.
• For the purpose of this research, animal models that are relevant to the immune system and ocular inflammation are used for testing.

Induced and Naturally-occurring Models

The paper describes both induced and naturally-occurring models of ocular inflammation.

• Induced models involve the infliction of a disease in an animal for the purpose of research.
• Naturally-occurring models involve studying disease that arises spontaneously in animals which is similar to the human condition.
• However, this paper argues that the models of most value for translating human treatments are those that involve spontaneous, immunologic ocular disease in animals.

Common Immune-Relevant Models of Dry Eye and Uveitis

The study provides a detailed review of various immune-relevant models of dry eye and uveitis.

• The review touches upon the immuno-pathogenesis of each disease – relating to the pathogenic mechanisms involved in immune responses.
• It also reports on the evaluation of models from small animals to large ones.

Naturally-Occurring Large Animal Models

A selected group of naturally occurring large animal models, such as equine uveitis and canine dry eye, are taken under review.

• The studies infer that these natural models in larger animals have great potential to translate into a better understanding and treatment of clinical, immune-relevant ocular disease in humans.