Abstract
Purpose: :
To study T-helper cell cytokine profiles of naive chemokine and cytokine in retinal tissue of diabetic subjects.
Methods: :
Cytokines (interleukin IL-1a, IL-1b, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNFa, GM-CSF, interferon [IFN]-gamma) and Chemokines (MIP-1a, MIP-2, MIP-3a, MCP-1, GRO/KC, RANTES, Fractalkine), in addition to tyrosine nitration were measured in retinal homogenate obtained from Long Evans rats with five months experimental diabetes.
Results: :
The Th1 cytokines; Interleukin-2 and INF-g, in addition to NO production were found to be significantly elevated in diabetic rat retina. None of the other cytokines and nor chemokines studied were affected by the diabetic condition.
Conclusions: :
Immunoregulatory cytokines belonging to the TH-1 group (IL-2 and IFN-g) were detected in retinal homogenate from rats with experimental diabetes, indicating a T-helper type 1 response and suggesting novel roles for IL-2 and INF-gamma. Moreover, the NO production was significantly elevated in the diabetic retina, supporting the concept of an inflammatory element in the development of diabetic retinopathy.
Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • inflammation • cytokines/chemokines