Abstract
Purpose::
Recently inflammatory processes have been described to be important for the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. Although several cytokines and chemokines in diabetic vitreous fluid were reported, overall prospects remain unclear. To perform comprehensive analysis of inflammatory responses in the eye suffering from diabetic retinopathy, vitreous fluid were analyzed using microbead-based multiplex ELISA system (Luminex®).
Methods::
We studied 52 patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), 89 with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and 49 patients with nondiabetic ocular disease, such as macular hole and epiretinal membrane (control). Vitreous fluid samples were obtained at the time of vitreoretinal surgery, and various cytokines and chemokines were measured simultaneously by microbead-based multiplex ELISA system; (1) proinflammatory cytokines such as GM-CSF, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17 and TNF-α; (2) T cell related cytokines: IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and IL-15; (3) growth factors: EGF, VEGF, basic FGF, and G-CSF; and (4) chemokines: eotaxin, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1ß, and RANTES.
Results::
IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1 and VEGF were detectable in vitreous fluid and significantly elevated in patients with DME and PDR compared with control patients. VEGF was significantly elevated in patients with PDR compared to DME. In contrast, T-cell related cytokines and chemokines were not detectable.
Conclusions::
Multiplex analysis using Luminex® was useful for comprehensive analysis of vitreous fluid. Of these 23 cytokines/chemokines, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, VEGF may contribute importantly to the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy.
Keywords: vitreous • diabetic retinopathy • retina