Immunological aspects of Behçet's and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada's diseases

Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K (1962). 1981 Sep;101 (Pt 3)(3):335-41.

Abstract

Immunogenetic studies showed that Behçet's disease has a primary association with HLA-B antigen (HLA-BW51) and the same association throughout the world, whereas, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada's disease (VKH) is primarily associated with supertypic HLA-DR antigen (MT3), an HLA-D-linked B cell alloantigen in Japanese. Immunological investigation showed that the serum levels of gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) were significantly increased in both Behçet's disease and VKH, IFN-gamma showed a significant decrease in the ocular exacerbation stage in Behçet's disease. The highest IFN titre was observed 1 to 2 months after the onset of the disease in VKH.

MeSH terms

  • Behcet Syndrome / immunology*
  • Female
  • HLA Antigens / analysis
  • HLA-B Antigens*
  • HLA-B51 Antigen
  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / analysis
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / blood
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Male
  • Time Factors
  • Uveitis / immunology*
  • Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome / immunology*

Substances

  • HLA Antigens
  • HLA-B Antigens
  • HLA-B51 Antigen
  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Interferon-gamma