Fig. 1

Topical administration of α4β1 VLA-4 inhibitor either at the time of EAU induction or when disease was evident (10 days post EAU induction) demonstrated a reduction of cellular inflammation in the EAU eyes. a, b H&E staining of eye sections including optic nerve illustrating increased numbers of cells within the vitreous, retinal folding, and disruption of the retinal layers in vehicle-treated (Veh) mice (a) than the 10 mg/ml GW559090 (GW₁₀)-treated eye (b). c Gradings of histological scores for EAU eyes treated with GW₃, GW₁₀, and GW₃₀ and vehicle controls. d, e H&E staining of retinal sections of GW₁₀ untreated left eye (d, GW_10L) and treated right eyes (e, GW_10R) demonstrating decreased retinal folding and fewer infiltrating cells in the treated eye. f Comparing the histological scores for EAU mice treated preventively with 10 mg/ml of GW559090 in right eye only and the untreated left eye. g Retinal fundus imaging of EAU eyes at peak stage of disease. h There were decreased peri-vascular infiltrates, disc infiltration, subretinal infiltrations, and vasculitis in GW₁₀ therapeutic treatment in EAU. i Clinical scores after EAU signs were evident by day 10 post immunization (d10pi) and after a further 7 days’ topical treatment with GW559090. The mice developed clinical extensive disease in Veh group, while in GW₁₀ and Dex treatment group, a significant reduction of clinical severity was observed. Values were mean ± SEM for 5 or more data points (c, i) and mean ± SD for 3 data points in f. n = 8 in preventive treatment experiment (a–e), n = 3 in unilateral eye treated group (f), and n = 5 in therapeutic treatment experiment (g–i). Scale bar = 100 μm. *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001 using a two-tailed, unpaired Student’s t test