Parental Uveitis Influences Offspring With an Increased Susceptibility to Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis

The study investigated the impact of parental uveitis on offspring using a mouse model of experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU). It found that offspring gestated during the active EAU period exhibited hair loss, delayed eye opening, and swollen spleens. Gene expression analysis revealed 393 differentially expressed genes primarily associated with immune system processes, muscle system processes, and cell development. The study suggested that parental uveitis increased susceptibility to EAU in offspring, with an enhanced Th17 cell immune response and upregulated genes related to antigen processing and presentation. The findings highlighted a transgenerational impact of parental uveitis, suggesting potential risk factors for predicting uveitis in future generations and emphasizing the need for further research to explore the mechanisms behind these genetic influences.