Abstract
Purpose:
To determine if an anti-inflammatory effect could be attributable to AS and PRGF in the treatment of dry eye, by measuring the cytokines concentrations in the tear film before and after treatment.
Methods:
An experimental, prospective, longitudinal, analytic study was conducted. Sixteen eyes (6 females, 2 males, 39-72 years of age, mean 54 years) with dry eye grade 3 and 4 (DEWS Severity Grade), were enrolled for this study. The study was performed with the approval of the institutional ethical commitee. The basal tear samples of 10-15 μl were obtained from each eye by capillary flow, with no nasal stimulation. No anaesthetic drops were instilled. The samples were collected non- traumatically from the inferior meniscus. The tear sample was stored at -200C refrigeration until processed. The amounts of six inflammatory molecules interleukin (IL- 1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), were measured by CBA (BD Biosciences, San Diego, CA, USA), according to the manufacturer's instructions. The cytokines were measured before and a month after treatment with AS and PRGF. Samples were analyzed using Kolmogorov- Smirnoff test to determine the type of distribution , t -student test for group comparisons (before and after treatment ) were applied, where a value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:
One month after treatment with AS we found a decrease in IL-10 (3.30±5.01 vs 0.66±0.89 pg/mL, p =0.0078), IL-12 (2.85± 2.87 vs 0.087± 0.24, p =0.0078) and TNF (2.54±4.03 vs 0.29± 0.42, p =0.0156.) In the PRGF group, we found a statistically significant increase in IL-1B, (1.09±0.92 vs 3.33±2.30 pg/mL p =0.0391) IL-12 (0.09± 0.18 vs 2.98± 3.07, p =0.0313), IL-6 (4.02±3.66 vs 8.03±7.32 p= 0.0391)and IL-10 (0.29±0.20 vs 1.73 ±1.41, p=0.0039) respectively after one month of treatment.
Conclusions:
Based on the decrease of the inflammatory cytokines detected in the tear film, we were able to conclude that AS has an antiinflammatory effect. On the other hand PRGF appears to have an antiinflammatory compensatory effect by increasing IL-10.