Heatshockprotein peptides reactive inpatients withBehqet's disease are uveitogenic inLewisrats

SUMMARY Mycobacterial andhomologous humanheatshockprotein Tcell peptide epitopes specific forT lymphocytes inBehget's disease were investigated fortheir pathogenicity inLewisrats.The potential pathogenicity ofeight peptides andtwocontrols was assessed byadministering the peptides inenriched Freund's adjuvant intothefootpads ofmaleLewisrats.Anterior uveitis whichisa majormanifestation ofBehget's disease was induced withtwo outofthefour mycobacterial andallfourhomologous humanpeptides. Themosteffective peptides inducing iridocyclitis in64-75%ofrats werepeptides withaminoacids 336-351 and136-150, derived from thesequenceofthehuman60-kDheatshockprotein. A fewoftheratsalsoshowedevidence of focal loss ofphotoreceptors. Theseresults suggest that selected peptides within heatshock protein 60kDwhichfunction asTcell epitopes inBehget's disease arecapable ofinducing uveitis inrats. Thissupports theviewthat thepeptide Tcell determinants may beinvolved inthepathogenesis of Behget's disease.