<p><b>A</b> and <b>B</b> are RT-PCR assays (A). Retinal Th1 cytokines (TNF-α, IL-12 and IFN-γ) and TH17 cytokine (IL-17) are up-regulated on day 21 in αA−/− EAU mice compared to the WT EAU controls after a challenge with the IRBP peptide. With αA administration (treated αA−/− EAU) these cytokines show significantly reduced expression compared to the untreated αA−/− EAU mice. (B). In the spleen of αA−/− with EAU, the levels of TNF-α show an increase compared to the WT mice with EAU. IL-12 and IFN-γ expression is similar in knockout mice and the WT mice. αA administration reduces the levels of TNF-α, IL-12 and IFN - γ in the spleen in αA−/−mice compared to the untreated αA−/−mice. Note that IL-17 remains unchanged in all three groups of mice. This is in contrast to increased expression of IL-17 in the retinas of αA −/− EAU mice and its inhibition in animals treated with αA (see A).</p
