Abstract
Purpose :
The molecular mechanisms of glaucoma development in pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX), the most common identifiable cause of open-angle glaucoma, are not fully understood. To assess the cytokine profiles that associate with pathogenesis in PEX, we compared levels of various cytokines in the aqueous humor of affected (PE+) and unaffected (PE-) eyes of subjects with clinically unilateral PEX.
Methods :
Aqueous humor samples were obtained from Japanese subjects with 10 clinically unilateral PEX (PE+ eyes, n=10 and PE- eyes, n=10) and with 10 cataract (control, n=20 eyes). The levels of four cytokines including interleukin (IL) -8, serum amyloid A (SAA), endothelin (ET)-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A were estimated using the multiplex bead immunoassay technique. Various glaucoma parameters including intraocular pressure (IOP), visual field mean deviation (MD) values, and number of antiglaucoma medications use also were collected by the chart review. The levels of cytokines and glaucoma parameters were compared between PE (+) and PE (-) eyes by using Wilcoxon signed-rand tests. Possible correlations among parameters were assessed by using Spearman’s rank correlation tests.
Results :
Compared to PE (-) eyes, SAA and ET-1 were significantly higher (P<0.05)
in PE (+) eyes. In the cataract group, the levels of all cytokines were not significantly different between both eyes. Compared to cataract eyes, SAA (P<0.05) and ET-1 (P<0.15) were significantly higher in PE (+) eyes, IL-8 was significantly higher in both PE (+) eyes (P<0.015) and PE (-) eyes (P<0.015). In unilateral PEX group, ET-1 concentration was positively correlated with MD (P<0.01) and was not correlated with IOP.
Conclusions :
SAA, ET-1, and IL-8 in aqueous humor may have epigenetic roles in the development of glaucoma in PEX. Elevation of IL-8 in aqueous humor may be the event that precedes to the detection of PE deposition clinically.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.