Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To determine whether components of the interleukin–6 (IL–6) cytokine signaling pathway are up–regulated in an experimental model of retinal detachment. Methods: Retinal detachments were created in Brown–Norway rats by injection of 10% hyaluronic acid into the subretinal space. Retinas were harvested at 24, 72 and 168 hours after detachment, and messenger RNA was processed for quantitative real–time polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR) analysis of the following genes: IL–6, gp130 (IL–6 signaling receptor), IL–6 alpha (non–signaling) receptor, and STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) 1 through 6. Results were compared to the expression levels of these genes in non–detached control eyes. Results: Expression levels of all genes tested were elevated in detached as compared to attached retinas. Expression increased as a function of time after retinal detachment. The largest fold increases in expression at 168 hours were seen for IL–6 (35x) and STAT–1 (87x). Conclusions: Intra–retinal expression levels of IL–6 cytokine signaling pathway intermediaries are elevated in an experimental model of retinal detachment.
Keywords: retinal detachment • apoptosis/cell death • cytokines/chemokines