Abstract
Purpose:
To clarify the pathophysiology of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD), we measured levels of a panel of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors of aqueous and vitreous in patients with RD.
Methods:
Aqueous and vitreous samples were collected from 50 eyes of 50 patients who underwent vitrectomy procedures for RD between July 2010 and May 2012 at Tokyo Medical University. Control aqueous samples were obtained from 23 eyes of 23 patients who underwent cataract surgery. Control vitreous samples were obtained from 9 eyes of 9 patients who underwent vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane. Samples were assayed for the following immune mediators: IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, VEGF, angiogenin, bFGF, Fas L, RANTES, MIG, IP-10, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, MCP-1, TNF, IFN-g, ITAC, fractalkine, IL-17A, IL-21, CD154, granzyme A and granzyme B, using the Cytometric Beads Array Flex immunoassay kit and analyzed with the FACS Caliber® flowcytometer (both from Becton Dickinson Immunocytometry Systems, Japan). The relationship between clinical features and concentrations of intraocular immune mediators was analyzed.
Results:
Aqueous concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, VEGF and MCP-1 were significantly elevated in RD samples compared to controls (all p < 0.01). Vitreous concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, IP-10 and MIP-1β were also significantly elevated in RD samples compared to controls (all p < 0.01). Aqueous levels of IL-6, IP-10 and MIG correlated with the duration from onset to operation (p=0.04, p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively), while VEGF correlated with age and the number of quadrants with RD (p=0.01, p=0.03). Vitreous levels of IL-8 and IL-10, MIG correlated with the duration from onset to operation (p=0.04, p=0.01, p<0.01).
Conclusions:
Intraocular levels of several immune mediators are elevated in RD patients compared to control. The correlation between intraocular immune mediator levels and clinical features suggests that immune mediators are related to the pathophysiology of RD.