Biological Aspects of Autoimmune Reactions in the Lens.

Animals may synthesize antibodies capable of reacting with numerous lens proteins of their own eyes. Such antibodies may bathe the lens for prolonged periods, yet not produce lesions. However, disruption of the lens capsule in such animals, with leakage of lens substance, appears to restdt in an accentuated inflammatory response due to hypersensitivity mechanisms, although the data along these lines are as yet incomplete. There is little concrete evidence that human lens-induced uveitis is caused by autoimmune reactions, but a few cases have been reported with low titers of lens antibodies. The antibodies to soluble lens proteins are devoid of cytotoxic effects in vitro, although antilens sera prepared in another species can damage lens epithelial cells in tissue culture. There is as yet no convincing demonstration of the stimulation of humoral lens antibodies in an animal which has suffered lens leakage in vivo. The accumidated investigations on autoimmune factors in relation to congenital cataract have generally failed to demonstrate an etiological role.