Abstract
Purpose:
To compare the concentrations of 20 cytokines from T helper (Th) pathways (Th1, Th2, and Th17) in aqueous humour of patients with sarcoid uveitis (active or in remission) to normal eyes.
Methods:
Single center, prospective, observational case control study. Aqueous samples were collected from 7 eyes with sarcoid uveitis (SU group), and 8 normal eyes (control group). Quantitative multiplex sandwich ELISA-based microarray assay was used to quantify 20 cytokines: interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-17, IL-17f, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-28a, macrophage inflammatory protein-3α (MIP-3α), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and tumor necrosis factor-β (TNF-β). Cytokine levels from patients were compared with normal controls.
Results:
The aqueous levels of IL-2 (10.6 pg/ml: 1.5-40.5, p: 0.024) and TNF-α (98.5 pg/ml: 4.2-542.6, p: 0.0093) were significantly higher in the sarcoidosis group compared with the control group. The aqueous levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-21, IL-23, and GM-CSF were higher in the active uveitis patients compared to the inactive group. TNF-α was higher in the remission patients.
Conclusions:
Multiplex immunoassay of 20 cytokines in patients with sarcoid associated uveitis revealed that IL-2 and TNF- α were concentrated in the aqueous fluid. We confirm that IL-21 and IL-23 levels were elevated and correlated with disease activity, suggesting Th17 cells play an important role in autoimmune disease and uveitis.
Keywords: 427 aqueous •
490 cytokines/chemokines •
432 autoimmune disease