增生性糖尿病视网膜病变患者房水及血清IL-1β与IL-1Ra含量分析

目的 探索增生性糖尿病视网膜病变（proliferative diabetic retinopathy,PDR）患者房水及血清白介素1β（IL-1β）、白介素1受体拮抗剂（IL-1Ra）与血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）水平的变化及其意义。设计 前瞻性比较性病例系列。研究对象 36例PDR患者与26例非糖尿病白内障患者（对照组）。方法 采集患者外周血,并于白内障摘除术或玻璃体切除术中抽取未稀释的房水。采用免疫磁珠多重因子检测方法分析房水与血清中IL-1β、IL-1Ra、VEGF含量。比较两组细胞因子含量的差异。主要指标 房水与血清中IL-1β、IL-1Ra、VEGF含量。结果 PDR组房水中的IL-1β（6.7±4.3 pg/ml）和IL-1Ra（657.9 ± 445.6 pg/ml）含量均高于对照组（3.3±3.2 pg/ml和300.8 ± 368.0 pg/ml,P均=0.001）;血清中的IL-1β（7.6±4.6 pg/ml）和IL-1Ra（437.8±270.2 pg/ml）含量亦高于对照组（4.9±3.7 pg/ml和279.2±226.7 pg/ml,P均=0.02）。两组房水及血清中VEGF含量差异均无统计学意义。两组房水或血清中IL-1β含量均与各自同一样本中IL-1Ra的含量呈高度正相关。PDR组房水与血清中的IL-1β（r=0.50,P=0.003）、房水与血清中的IL-1Ra（r=0.66,P<0.001）含量均为正相关,但房水与血清中的VEGF含量之间无明显相关（r=-0.06,P=0.72）。结论 PDR患者房水与血清中炎症因子升高的同时伴随抗炎因子的代偿性增高。针对炎症反应的调控可能为DR的治疗开拓新的思路。血清中炎症因子与抗炎因子水平可能作为DR发生的生物标志物。（眼科,2021, 30： 449-452）     

糖尿病合并白内障及单纯老年性白内障与房水中细胞因子相关性的临床研究

目的探讨糖尿病合并白内障及单纯老年性白内障与房水中细胞因子的相关性。 方法收集2017年10月至2018年2月在内蒙古医科大学附属医院接受白内障手术治疗49例患者(49只眼)的临床资料。其中，男性22例(22只眼)，女性27例(27只眼)，平均年龄(64.4±9.7)岁。依据患者是否患有糖尿病，分为实验1组和实验2组。其中，糖尿病合并白内障患者14例(14只眼)为实验1组；单纯老年性白内障患者35例(35只眼)为实验2组。所有患者白内障术中收集房水。采用细胞因子微球技术检测患者血清及房水中白细胞介素-8(IL-8)、白细胞介素-10(IL-10)、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)、血管细胞粘附分子-1(VCAM-1)及成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)的浓度，酶联免疫吸附试验检测人血管内皮细胞生长因子B(VEGF-B)和胎盘生长因子(PLGF)的浓度。采用Spearman相关分析评价两组房水中各细胞因子浓度与晶状体皮质混浊、核性混浊及后囊下混浊的相关性。 结果实验1组和2组患者房水中IL-8、IL-10、VEGF、BFGF、VCAM-1、PLGF、VEGF-B浓度分别为(31.69±27)pg/ml、(5.2±0.41)pg/ml、(47.27±20.58)pg/ml、(17.28±4.11)pg/ml、(416.5±310.66)pg/ml、(17.85±6.70)pg/ml、(65.54±26.89)pg/ml、(12.38±6.52)pg/ml、(3.7±2.13)pg/ml、(36.54±14.97)pg/ml、(17.43±4.33)pg/ml、(331.39±205.80)pg/ml、(22.21±17.47)pg/ml及(74.36±26.75)pg/ml。实验1组房水中VCAM-1浓度与晶状体核性混浊呈负相关(r＝-0.61，P<0.05)。实验1组和2组患者血清中各细胞因子与晶状体核性混浊无相关性(r＝-0.03，-0.10，0.26，0.04，-0.32，-0.19；P均>0.05)、(r＝-0.15，0.13，-0.15，-0.11，0.11，-0.18；P均>0.05)、(r＝0.21，0.53，0.20，0.13，-0.12，0.16；P均>0.05)、(r＝-0.06，0.03，-0.01，-0.20，0.09，0.20；P均>0.05)、(r＝0.39，0.02，-0.11，-0.20，-0.13，0.03；P均>0.05)及(r＝0.13，0.09，0.32，0.25，0.11，-0.10；P均>0.05)。 结论两组房水中细胞因子与白内障之间规律不同。糖尿病患者房水中VCAM-1的浓度与晶状体的核性混浊呈负相关，VCAM-1可能是核性白内障的保护性因素。     

细胞因子在玻璃体切除联合硅油填充术后并发性白内障患者房水中的表达

目的 比较玻璃体切除联合硅油填充术后并发性白内障患者与年龄相关性白内障患者房水中细胞因子的表达差异情况,探讨细胞因子与并发性白内障的相关性。设计 实验研究。研究对象 北京同仁医院因玻璃体切除联合硅油填充术后3个月~6年需手术治疗的并发性白内障患者（实验组）19例（19眼）及需手术治疗的年龄相关性白内障患者（对照组）11例（11眼）。方法 每例受试者白内障手术中收集房水0.1～0.2 ml,通过流式细胞仪检测房水中细胞因子IL-1β、IL-2、IL-4、IL-5、IL-6、IL-10、TNF-α、IFN-γ的表达。主要指标 上述8种细胞因子的表达量。结果 实验组中IL-6的表达量（199635.64±28156.5 fg/ml）及IL-10的表达量（273.57±206.7 fg/ml）均明显高于正常对照组 （3340.96±1970.36 fg/ml）及（117.45±64.77 fg/ml）（P均＜0.05）。其余6种细胞因子表达两组间差异则无统计学意义。结论 玻璃体切除联合硅油填充术后并发性白内障患者房水中细胞因子IL-6、IL-10含量较高,可能与并发性白内障的形成或加速有关。（眼科,2013,22：269-272）     

交感性眼炎患者房水和血清细胞因子水平的分析简

目的 检测交感性眼炎急性发作期患者房水和血清细胞因子的水平。方法 选取2009年1月～2011年12月在我院眼科就诊的交感性眼炎急性发作期的患者15例,前房穿刺取患者房水,同时取患者静脉血,收集血清标本。以年龄相关性白内障患者术前血清标本和术中房水作对照。应用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）分析交感性眼炎急性发作期患者及白内障患者房水及血清中IFN-γ（Th1细胞分泌因子）、IL-4（Th2细胞分泌因子）和IL-17（Th17细胞分泌因子）细胞因子水平。结果 交感性眼炎急性发作期患者的房水IFN-γ水平与血清中IFN-γ的水平相比明显升高,分别为（148.1±57.9）pg/mL、（6.5±5.4）pg/mL,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）;房水IL-4水平与血清中IL-4的水平相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）,分别为（2.3±3.5）pg/mL、（8.9±5.0）pg/mL,交感性眼炎患者房水中IL-4水平明显低于血清;房水IL-17水平和血清 IL-17水平相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）,分别为（48.3±21.6）pg/mL、（6.5±9.6）pg/mL,房水中IL-17水平明显高于血清。交感性眼炎急性发作期患者房水和血清IFN-γ水平与对照组房水和血清IFN-γ水平相比均明显升高（P〈0.01,P〈0.05）;交感性眼炎患者房水和血清IL-4水平与对照组房水和血清IL-4水平相比差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05,P〉0.05）;对照组房水和血清 IL-17水平均未测出。结论 交感性眼炎患者眼部炎症的发病主要是与Th1和Th17细胞分泌因子IFN-γ和IL-17有关,对于炎症的防治有指导意义。     

血清及房水中VEGF、IL-6水平与新生血管性青光眼的相关性研究

目的测定新生血管性青光眼（NVG）患者血清及房水中血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）的水平,探讨VEGF、IL-6在NVG发生发展中的作用。方法选取NVG患者20例（20只眼）作为实验组（A组）,原发性慢性闭角型青光眼患者（B组）、老年性白内障患者（C组）各20例（20只眼）作为对照组。采集3组患者血清及房水标本,通过双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA法）分别检测血清与房水中VEGF、IL-6的水平。结果 （1）A组房水中VEGF、IL-6的水平（1336.80±70.15）pg/ml、（691.15±50.09）pg/ml明显高于B组（311.60±31.06）pg/ml、（168.25±11.95）pg/ml和C组（165.75±13.95）pg/ml,（92.10±9.59）pg/ml,3组间两两比较,差异均具有统计学意义（F=4019.334,P〈0.01;F=2275.019,P〈0.01）。A组血清中VEGF、IL-6的水平（545.40±155.49）pg/ml、（291.35±22.66）pg/ml高于B组（321.15±52.57）pg/ml、（104.35±13.21）pg/ml和C组（176.30±20.38）pg/ml、（87.00±12.70）pg/ml,3组间两两比较,差异均具有统计学意义（F=75.940,P〈0.01;F=906.947,P〈0.01）。（2）A组房水中VEGF与IL-6的水平呈显著的正相关性,差异具有统计学意义（r=0.857,P〈0.01）。其余各组标本中无显著的相关性（P〉0.05）。结论 NVG患者房水及血清中VEGF、IL-6的水平明显高于对照组,且房水中二者水平呈明显正相关,提示在NVG病理机制过程中,VEGF、IL-6作为促血管生成因子,相互促进、相互影响,共同导致了NVG的发生和发展。     

IL-17A-OVA疫苗对实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜炎的影响

 目的 研究IL-17A-OVA多肽疫苗对于实验性自身免疫性葡萄膜炎（EAU）的影响。设计 实验研究。 研究对象  30只C57BL/6小鼠。方法  制备IL-17A-OVA疫苗。将30只C57BL/6小鼠随机分为疫苗组、佐剂组及环孢素组3组,每组10只,佐剂组及疫苗组提前免疫小鼠,第10周时三组小鼠同时用光感受器间维生素A类结合蛋白（IRBP）诱发EAU动物模型。环孢素组造模成功后环孢素连续灌胃2周。HE染色观察小鼠眼球活组织切片,ELISA方法检测小鼠血清中IL-17A、IL-17A特异性抗体、IL-6及IL-23水平。主要指标 小鼠血清中IL-17A、IL-17A特异性抗体、IL-6及IL-23水平。结果 组织病理学显示疫苗组、环孢素组与佐剂组组织病理学评分均有显著性差异（佐剂组评分较高）,疫苗组与环孢素组组织病理学评分无显著性差异;血清中IL-17A水平疫苗组（25.785±4.677 pg/ml）与环孢素组（23.129±3.940 pg/ml）均较佐剂组（33.774±6.478 pg/ml）显著降低（F=8.125,P=0.003）;IL-17A特异性抗体水平疫苗组（106.379±12.603 pg/ml）较环孢素组（59.431±8.626 pg/ml）及佐剂组（56.712±4.214 pg/ml）显著升高（F=63.008,P=0.000）,环孢素组与佐剂组无显著性差异;血清中IL-6水平疫苗组（41.124±4.959 pg/ml）与环孢素组（29.418±3.34 7 pg/ml）均较佐剂组（49.329±8.768 pg/ml）显著降低（F=18.603,P=0.000）;IL-23水平环孢素组（73.492±12.324 pg/ml）较佐剂组（109.770±20.848 pg/ml）及疫苗组（100.893±13.467 pg/ml）显著降低,疫苗组与佐剂组无显著性差异（F=4.916,P=0.018）。结论 IL-17A-OVA疫苗可通过产生IL-17A特异性抗体在减轻EAU的炎性反应中起到一定的作用,该疫苗可能成为自身免疫性葡萄膜炎治疗的新方法。（眼科,2017,26： 34-38）     

单核细胞趋化因子-1及白介素-6在眼球穿孔伤中的表达

【摘要】目的探讨单核细胞趋化因子-1（MCP-1）及白介素石（IL-6）在眼球穿孔伤患者房水中的表达水平及其意义。方法眼球穿孔伤30例（30只眼）作为试验组,在眼球穿孔伤行-期缝合术后10d抽取房水200μl;单纯年龄相关性白内障30例（30只眼）作为正常对照组,在行超声乳化吸出术术中抽取200μl房水。所有房水样本均用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）测定MCP-1及IL-6水平。用t检验比较两组房水标本中MCP-1、IL-6浓度。结果试验组房水标本中MCP-1、IL-6浓度分别为（8103．18±1961．76）pg／ml和（161．35±37．34）pg／ml;对照组房水标本中MCP-1、IL-6浓度分别为（217．98±158．32）μg／ml和（2．48±5．19）pg／ml。试验组房水标本中MCP-1、IL-6表达水平均高于正常对照组,差异有统计学意义（MCP-1：F=31．901,P=0．000,IL-6：F=29．302,P=0．000）。结论眼球穿孔伤后房水中MCP-1和IL-6表达水平明显升高,这提示MCP-1及IL-6可能是眼球穿孔伤后眼内炎症反应及其相关并发症的重要介质,对眼球穿孔伤术后炎症和相关并发症的治疗有指导意义。     

人高度近视眼房水中免疫因子含量的研究

目的 比较高度近视患者及正视眼患者房水中与胶原代谢相关,或与损伤巩膜胶原的眼部炎性疾病相关的免疫因子的表达情况,探讨房水中的免疫因子与高度近视的相关性。设计 前瞻性对照研究。研究对象2019年9~12月北京同仁眼科中心高度近视20例（实验组）和正视眼白内障20例（对照组）的房水标本。方法 将房水标本通过流式CBA法检测白介素-6（IL-6）、IL-10、转化生长因子-β1（TGF-β1）、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）、IL-1β的含量。比较两组间各因子含量的差异。主要指标 房水中IL-6,IL-10,TGF-β1,bFGF,IL-1β的含量。 结果 实验组和对照组患眼的房水中IL-6分别为（7.60±7.64）pg/ml和（30.02±43.02） pg/ml（t=-2.71,P<0.01）;IL-10分别为（1.00±0.91）pg/ml和（1.84±0.97） pg/ml（t=-2.29,P=0.02）;bFGF分别为（0.00±0.00）pg/ml和（0.56±1.20 ）pg/ml（t=-2.25,P=0.03）;TGF-β1分别为（6.52±10.75）pg/ml和（4.97±7.25）pg/ml（t=-0.43,P=0.67）;IL-1β分别为（2.50±2.14）pg/ml和（2.91±1.12）pg/ml（t=-0.72,P=0.47）。结论 高度近视患者房水中免疫因子表达与正视眼者存在差异,可能与高度近视发病原因相关。     

炎性因子在乙肝病毒携带的白内障患者房水中的表达及意义

目的评估乙肝病毒携带[HBV(+)]的白内障患者和正常白内障患者房水中炎性因子的差异。设计实验研究。研究对象18例HBV(+)的白内障患者及18例正常白内障患者的房水。方法所有研究对象在白内障手术时采集房水样本,采用人细胞因子抗体阵列检测技术(Ray-Biotech公司)对40种细胞因子进行检测。主要指标房水40种炎性因子含量。结果在检测的40种炎性因子中,HBV(+)白内障患者和正常白内障患者房水中GM-CSF(0.559±0.134 pg/ml,0.768±0.195 pg/ml)、IL-5(1.285±0.664 pg/ml,1.854±0.896 pg/ml)、IL-7(5.076±1.112 pg/ml,6.298±1.435 pg/ml)、IL-17(2.643±1.050 pg/ml,3.643±1.659 pg/ml)、PDGF-BB(0.367±0.297 pg/ml,0.169±0.286 pg/ml)、TNFα(6.912±2.697 pg/ml,3.191±3.462 pg/ml)、TNFβ(28.307±12.954 pg/ml,17.424±12.741 pg/ml)7种因子的含量存在显著性差异(P均<0.05)。结论本小样本研究显示,HBV(+)白内障患者房水中炎性因子PDGF-BB、TNFα、TNFβ表达较正常白内障患者升高,GM-CSF、IL-5、IL-7、IL-17降低。PDGF-BB、TNFα、TNFβ表达升高可能是HBV(+)白内障患者较正常白内障患者术中疼痛更敏感的原因。     

特发性黄斑前膜合并白内障患者房水中细胞因子表达及其与白内障手术预后的相关性研究

目的　探究特发性黄斑前膜（iERM）合并白内障患者房水中细胞因子的表达及其与白内障超声乳化手术预后指标的相关性。方法　选取2020年5月至2021年2月在南通大学附属医院眼科住院并行白内障超声乳化术的iERM患者（iERM组）25例（27眼）和老年性白内障患者（对照组）23例（25眼）为研究对象,分别收集两组患者的房水,运用Luminex液相芯片技术对房水中48种细胞因子水平进行测定。同时分析iERM组患者白内障超声乳化术术前和术后3个月相关指标,包括最佳矫正视力（BCVA）、黄斑中心凹厚度（CFT）、黄斑体积（MV）和黄斑平均厚度（MT）的变化与房水细胞因子之间的相关性。结果　iERM组患者房水样本中生长调节致癌基因-α（GRO-α）、白细胞介素 (IL)-2、IL-7和血小板源性生长因子-BB（PDGF-BB）的水平均显著高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义（均为P<0.001 5）。iERM组患者白内障超声乳化术术后视力明显改善,CFT、MV和MT均明显升高（均为P<0.05）。iERM组患者房水细胞因子CTACK浓度与BCVA（logMAR)变化（术后与术前的差值）呈正相关（r=0.445,P=0.043）;细胞因子IL-4浓度与MT变化（术后与术前差值）呈负相关（r=-0.471,P=0.031）。结论　对于iERM患者,房水中GRO-α、IL-2、IL-7和PDGF-BB可能参与了iERM的形成机制,CTACK可能与患者术后视力恢复缓慢有关,而IL-4则可能与患者术后黄斑厚度增加密切相关。     

Inflammatory reaction in acute retinal artery occlusion: cytokine levels in aqueous humor and serum

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of inflammation in acute retinal artery occlusion (RAO). METHODS: Levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured in serum (n = 14) and aqueous humor (AqH) (n = 8) samples from patients with RAO. Findings were compared with 24 age- and disease-matched patients, 10 healthy subjects (serum), and 16 patients undergoing cataract surgery (AqH). RESULTS: Patients who arrived early (within 4-6 hours of occlusion) had higher serum IL-8 and IL-6 levels than controls; the IL-6 level in the AqH was lower than that of controls, while the IL-8 level was higher. In seven patients for whom both serum and AqH samples were available, serum IL-6 levels were higher than their corresponding AqH levels in most patients arriving within 10 hours of occlusion, and AqH IL-8 levels were higher than the corresponding serum levels in all but one. TNF-alpha levels were consistently higher in the serum than in the AqH at all time points. CONCLUSIONS: Serum IL-8 and IL-6 and AqH IL-8 are elevated immediately following acute RAO. The early local suppression of IL-6 may be related to ocular immune mechanisms.     

Subject index

Purpose: To investigate the role of inflammation in acute retinal artery occlusion (RAO). Methods: Levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured in serum (n = 14) and aqueous humor (AqH) (n = 8) samples from patients with RAO. Findings were compared with 24 age- and disease-matched patients, 10 healthy subjects (serum), and 16 patients undergoing cataract surgery (AqH). Results: Patients who arrived early (within 4–6 hours of occlusion) had higher serum IL-8 and IL-6 levels than controls; the IL-6 level in the AqH was lower than that of controls, while the IL-8 level was higher. In seven patients for whom both serum and AqH samples were available, serum IL-6 levels were higher than their corresponding AqH levels in most patients arriving within 10 hours of occlusion, and AqH IL-8 levels were higher than the corresponding serum levels in all but one. TNF-α levels were consistently higher in the serum than in the AqH at all time points. Conclusions: Serum IL-8 and IL-6 and AqH IL-8 are elevated immediately following acute RAO. The early local suppression of IL-6 may be related to ocular immune mechanisms.     

Cytokine profile in aqueous humor and sera of patients with infectious or noninfectious uveitis

PURPOSE: To determine the cytokine expression profile at the protein level in aqueous humor (AqH) and sera of patients with uveitis. METHODS: Patients with various clinical entities of strictly diagnosed infectious or noninfectious uveitis were tested. AqH and sera were collected from patients with uveitis. AqH was also collected during surgery from patients with cataract, as control specimens. Interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interleukin (IL)-2, -4, -5, and -10 were measured from nondiluted samples simultaneously, with microparticle-based flow cytometric analysis. RESULTS: In AqH IFN-gamma was the most abundant cytokine in both infectious (mean, 3240.5 pg/mL) and noninfectious (mean, 115.6 pg/mL) uveitis, and IL-10 was the second (mean, 402.1 pg/mL, infectious uveitis; 7.5 pg/mL, noninfectious uveitis). The expression level of other cytokines in AqH was generally higher in infectious uveitis than in noninfectious uveitis, but the levels were lower than that of IL-10. There was no remarkable difference, however, in the cytokine expression pattern in AqH of the different clinical entities of uveitis. Sera from patients with noninfectious uveitis contained IFN-gamma (mean, 45.0 pg/mL), but the other serum cytokines in both types of uveitis were low or under the detectable level. CONCLUSIONS: IFN-gamma is the most abundant cytokine in infectious and noninfectious uveitis, with a remarkable difference between the two groups. The data suggest that cytokines in AqH of infectious uveitis are locally produced, whereas in noninfectious uveitis, IFN-gamma is produced both in the eye and the peripheral blood.     

IL-6 antagonizes TGF-beta and abolishes immune privilege in eyes with endotoxin-induced uveitis

PURPOSE: To determine the immunosuppressive status of aqueous humor (AqH) from mouse eyes afflicted with endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) and to identify the relevant cytokines responsible for immunomodulatory activity within EIU AqH. METHODS: Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected into hind footpads of C3H/HeN mice; and AqH, collected at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours, was evaluated for content of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and interferon (IFN)-gamma and capacity to suppress anti-CD3-driven T-cell proliferation. Cytokine mRNA expression in iris-ciliary body (I/CB) was analyzed by RNase protection assays. RESULTS: During 6 to 24 hours after LPS injection, total TGF-beta levels in AqH increased even though the fluid lost its capacity to suppress T-cell activation. At this time, AqH contained high levels of IL-6, and I/CB contained high levels of IL-6 mRNA. When IL-6 was neutralized with specific antibodies, inflamed AqH reacquired its capacity to suppress T-cell activation, which correlated with high levels of TGF-beta. Coinjection of IL-6 plus antigen into the anterior chamber of the eye of normal mice prevented antigen-specific anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID). CONCLUSIONS: LPS-induced intraocular inflammation is associated with local production of IL-6, which robs AqH of its immunosuppressive activity, perhaps by antagonizing TGF-beta. The fact that IL-6 antagonized ACAID induction in normal eyes suggests that strategies to suppress the intraocular synthesis of IL-6 may reduce inflammation and restore ocular immune privilege.     

Cytokines, chemokines and soluble adhesion molecules in aqueous humor of children with uveitis

Uveitis in childhood is a visual threatening disease with a complication rate of more than 75%. Despite extensive research, the etiology of uveitis is still unclear although the general opinion is now that uveitis is a T-cell mediated disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the profile of cytokines, chemotactic cytokines (chemokines) and soluble adhesion molecules in the aqueous humor (AqH) of children with uveitis in order to identify the factors that control the immune response in the eye. In this clinical laboratory investigation we analyzed, with a multiplex immunoassay, 16 immune mediators in the AqH of 25 children with uveitis and 6 children without uveitis. Increased levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-18, interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, RANTES, IL-8 and interferon-inducible 10-kDa protein were found in the AqH of children with uveitis compared with controls. No significant differences were found for IL-1 beta, IL-4, IL-12 p-70, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and Eotaxin. Lower levels of IL-10 and IL-8 were found in quiet stage uveitis (surgical) samples compared with active uveitis (diagnostic) samples and in samples of patients treated with methotrexate (MTX) compared with samples of patients not treated with MTX. Lower levels of IL-10 were as well found in samples taken during the first 3 months after the diagnosis of uveitis than samples taken later during the disease process. No significant differences were found between patients treated with or without topical or systemic (perioperative and long term) corticosteroids. In conclusion, in children with uveitis, multiple intraocular cytokines, chemokines and soluble adhesion molecules are increased in the AqH regardless of active or inactive inflammation. Whether the IL-8 and IL-10 levels in AqH of children with uveitis are correlated with uveitis activity, early or late phase of the course of the disease and systemic treatment with MTX needs further investigation in a bigger study population.     

Increased interleukin-6 in aqueous humor of neovascular glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the involvement of proinflammatory cytokines in intraocular neovascularization by detecting the presence of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-2, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in aqueous humor and serum of patients with neovascular glaucoma (NVG) secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). METHODS: According to the grade of iris neovascularization (NVI), patients with CRVO were divided into three groups: CRVO without NVI, CRVO with NVI, and CRVO with regressed NVI. Healthy patients with cataract were enrolled as control subjects. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantitate the concentrations of the cytokines IL-6, IL-2, and TNF-alpha in aqueous humor and serum from patients with NVG and control subjects. RESULTS: In serum, the levels of IL-6, IL-2, and TNF-alpha did not differ among groups. In aqueous humor, only IL-6 showed significant change among groups. IL-6 levels in aqueous humor of group 2, CRVO with NVI (1532.0+/-221.1 pg/ml; P < 0.001), and group 3, CRVO with regressed NVI (234+/-154.6 pg/ml; P < 0.001), were significantly higher. There was no significant difference in IL-6 levels between the control group (26.4+/-21.8 pg/ml) and group 1 (15.6+/-0.9 pg/ml). CONCLUSIONS: The inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in aqueous humor increased spatially and temporally correlated with the grade of NVI in patients of NVG secondary to CRVO. The aqueous IL-6 increased in NVI and decreased after vessels regressed. It is possible that the significantly higher level of IL-6 was due to intraocular synthesis because of the minimal change in serum. The increased level of IL-6 may have a putative role along with other angiogenic factors in angiogenesis of NVG as a possible predictor of NVI.