Developing a model to study uveitis

Brief plain language background

Eye inflammation is a common condition and can happen at any age. It occurs in response to infection, allergies, irritation, injury or trauma to the eyes. But it can also happen in people who have an autoimmune condition where their immune system mistakenly starts to attack healthy tissues.

Eye inflammation can affect different parts of the eye, including structures beneath the white of the eye (uvea), which is known as uveitis.

What problem/knowledge gap does it help address

Uveitis is often seen in people who also have inflammatory conditions in the joints (arthritis) or gut (inflammatory bowel disease).

Previous research has demonstrated that fibroblasts – a type of cell involved in the formation of connective tissue – can start an inflammatory process in the joints and gut. Fibroblasts have also been found in the eye, suggesting this cell type may initiate inflammation leading to uveitis.

An improved understanding of the biological processes has been hindered by a lack of suitable experimental models.

Aim of the project

To develop a new experimental model of the uvea to study the role of fibroblasts.

This project also aims to further the career progression of the applicant, as amongst other benefits, the findings could form the basis of future grant applications trialling candidate drugs.

Key procedures/objectives

• Grow uveal cells from human donor eyes in such a way that they form organoids – tiny, three-dimensional groups of cells – which can be used as a model for the uvea.
• Employing state of the art techniques, study interactions between different cell types of the uveal organoid, with a focus on fibroblasts.
• Introduce inflammatory molecules to the uveal organoid to identify similarities or differences that are observed in uveitis.

Potential impact on people with sight loss

Developing a human-cell based model of the uvea could provide insight into the biology of structures in the uvea and allow researchers to explore the drivers of uveitis, including the role of fibroblasts. Future research could utilise the model to trial different treatments for people with uveitis.