Abstract
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the aqueous humor and plasma levels of IL-1β, an inflammatory cytokine in patients with glaucoma submitted to trabeculectomy, in a Brazilian population, in order to investigate their role in glaucoma pathogenesis.<br />
Methods:
This case-control study recruited 31 POAG patients submitted to trabeculectomy and 34 controls who underwent cataract surgery, as control group. The inclusion and exclusion criteria led both groups to be matched in terms of age, ethnicity, sex as well as systemic and medical profiles. The plasma and the aqueous humor were collected pre and intra-operatively, respectively. The inflammatory cytokine IL1-β was measured by flow cytometry, using the cytometric bead array flex set. The associations related above were evaluated using Mann-Whitney test. P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.<br />
Results:
Concentration of IL1-β was elevated in plasma of glaucomatous patients when compared to controls, but this difference could not be observed in the aqueous humor. Previous analyses showed the same results for IL-α and TNF-α levels (ARVO abstracts 2014).<br />
Conclusions:
This study suggests a pro-inflammatory profile in plasma of glaucomatous patients when compared to controls. Taking into account our previously reported results, IL1-β, IL1-α and TNF-α levels were higher in plasma among POAG patients. This cytokine profile may represent an abnormal inflammatory and immune environment, which could be contributing to glaucomatous pathogenesis.<br />