Purpose
To evaluate the expression of different cytokines in tears of Sjögren Syndrome dry eye (SSDE), Non-Sjögren syndrome dry eye (NSSDE) and healthy controls.
Methods
Twenty SSDE patients with mean age 47±12.9 years, 20 NSSDE patients with mean age 45.2±5.9 years and 20 gender and age matched healthy controls were recruited in this study. Schirmer 1 test, tear film break-up time (TBUT), cornea fluorescein staining (FS) were examined. Tear samples were taken from using a 10-ul capillary tube to analyze inflammatory cytokine levels. Expression of IL-1β,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10 and IL-12 were measured by cytometric bead array (BD Biosciences, Pharmingen). Impression cytology specimens were obtained and PAS staining was performed to evaluate the goblet cell density.
Results
The Schirmer 1 test value, TBUT and FS scores were obviously worse in NSSDE and SSDE patients comparison with the healthy controls, specially in the SSDE group. Goblet cell density was 1230.24±653cells/mm2 in healthy controls, 706±453cells/mm2 in NSSDE group and 340±248cells/mm2 in NSSDE group. No significant difference were found in the expression of IL-6,TNF-α,IL-10,IL-12 in tears of three groups. However a significantly increased expression of IL-1β and IL-8 in tears of SSDE group were examined (P<0.05).
Conclusions
The increased expression of IL-1β and IL-8 in tears of SSDE patients suggested these two cytokines might play important roles in SSDE ocular surface pathological damage.
Keywords: 557 inflammation •
486 cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye