Enhanced characterization of serum autoantibody reactivity following HSP 60 immunization in a rat model of experimental autoimmune glaucoma.

Antibodies against heat shock proteins have been identified in sera of human glaucoma patients in several studies and immunization with heat shock protein 60 (HSP 60) causes retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss in an animal model of experimental autoimmune glaucoma. The aim of this study was to observe the time course of increased anti-retina antibody appearance in the serum and characterize the identification of prominent autoantibodies that accompany HSP 60 immunization in a rat model of experimental autoimmune glaucoma.Eight weeks after immunization with HSP 60 retinal flatmounts were prepared and RGCs were counted in eight predefined areas and compared to controls. Serum collected before, a…