Figure 1.
TLR2 expression in the retina during B. cereus endophthalmitis.
C57BL/6J mouse eyes were injected with 100 CFU B. cereus and retinas were harvested at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 h postinfection. (A) No significant change in retinal TLR2 mRNA expression was detected during infection. Values are mean ± SD of N≥4 retinas per time point (P≤0.05, 0 h postinfection compared with all other time points). (B) TLR2 PCR of wild type and TLR2-/- strains used in this study. Reactions using primers for genotyping [41] or real-time PCR (Methods) are shown.
Figure 2.
Bacterial growth during experimental B. cereus endophthalmitis.
C57BL/6J wild type and TLR2-/- mouse eyes were injected with 100 CFU B. cereus. Eyes were harvested, homogenized, and analyzed for bacterial growth. B. cereus grew to similar concentrations in infected eyes of TLR2-/- mice and wild type mice (P≥0.05 at all time points). Values represent the mean±SEM of N≥8 eyes per time point for at least 2 separate experiments.
Figure 3.
Retinal function analysis during B. cereus endophthalmitis.
C57BL/6J wild type and TLR2-/- mouse eyes were injected with 100 CFU B. cereus. Retinal function was assessed by electroretinography. At 8 and 12 h postinfection, A- and B-wave amplitudes retained were significantly lower in infected wild type eyes than in infected TLR2-/- eyes. By 12 h, retinal function was abolished in infected eyes of wild type mice, and significant function loss was seen in infected eyes of TLR2-/-. Values represent the mean±SEM of N = 8 eyes per time point for at least 2 separate experiments. *P≤0.05.
Figure 4.
Retinal histology of B. cereus endophthalmitis.
Wild type and TLR2-/- mouse eyes were injected with 100 CFU B. cereus. Eyes were harvested and processed for hematoxylin and eosin staining. Infected TLR2-/- had significantly less inflammation than infected eyes of wild type mice. Sections are representative of 4 eyes per group. L, lens; V, vitreous; R, retina; C, choroid; ON, optic nerve head. Magnification, 40X.
Figure 5.
Infiltration of PMN into mouse eyes during B. cereus endophthalmitis.
C57BL/6J wild type and TLR2-/- mouse eyes were injected with 100 CFU B. cereus. PMN infiltration was estimated by quantifying MPO in whole eyes by sandwich ELISA. MPO concentrations were significantly higher in infected wild type eyes than in infected TLR2-/- eyes (*P≤0.05), suggesting greater numbers of PMN in infected wild type eyes than in infected TLR2-/- eyes. Values represent the mean±SEM for N≥4 per group for at least 2 separate experiments.
Figure 6.
Proinflamatory cytokine and chemokine expression during experimental B. cereus endophthalmitis.
C57BL/6J wild type and TLR2-/- mouse eyes were injected with 100 CFU B. cereus. Ocular proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were analyzed by sandwich ELISA. Overall, greater levels of TNFα, KC, IL-6, and INFγ were synthesized in infected eyes of wild type mice compared with that of infected eyes of TLR2-/- mice. Values represent the mean±SEM for N≥6 per group for at least 2 separate experiments.