Abstract
Purpose::
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) rarely presents as a new disease in adults. In order to evaluate if the cytokine pattern production was different in adults and children with VKC, multiple cytokines were assayed in tears of different subgroups of VKC patients.
Methods::
Tears were collected from 24 active VKC patients: 9 adults and 16 children, as well as 8 normal subjects (CT). Tears were centrifuged and probed using the multiplex bead analysis for IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, GM-CSF, IFNγ and TNFα.
Results::
Considering all VKC patients, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 levels were increased in VKC compared to CT. No differences in cytokine levels were found after classifying all patients by type of VKC: limbal or tarsal. However, in children, IL-6 was significantly increased in tarsal compared to limbal VKC. In adults, IL-1, IL-2, IL-12, IFNγ and GM-CSF levels were all higher in limbal compared to tarsal VKC. As found in previous studies, no differences in cytokine production were found between prick/IgE+ and prick/IgE- patients with either tarsal or limbal VKC.
Conclusions::
Cytokine pattern production is similar in children and adults with VKC. Nevertheless, in the adult subgroup, a more pronounced Th1-type cytokine pattern production was found in the limbal form of the disease.
Keywords: conjunctivitis • cytokines/chemokines • cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye