Abstract
Purpose :
We have previously found an interleukin-8 (IL-8) polymorphism (SNP) at rs4073 to modulate anti-VEGF treatment response and the age of onset of patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (eAMD). Here, we study IL-8 production by cells in peripheral blood for associations with variants of IL-8 gene polymorphisms and anti-VEGF treatment response in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (eAMD).
Methods :
Unstimulated and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated IL-8 production by cells in blood samples of 80 eAMD patients were analyzed. Forty of these were receiving active treatment, and were evaluated for treatment response at the time of sampling. All patients were genotyped for rs4073. Samples of 57 of these and of 52 additional patients were also analyzed for rs2227306 another IL-8 gene SNP site, reported to be associated with a higher production of IL-8.
Results :
Higher stimulated IL-8 production was associated with older age (P = 0.003, Generalized estimating equations) and the presence of intra- or subretinal fluid in OCTs during treatment compared with no treatment (P = 0.046). Lower production with acetylsalicylic acid use (P = 0.028). In samples taken during anti-VEGF therapy, lower IL-( production was was found in females (P = 0.018), with daily use of any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (P = 0.012) and the TT genotype of rs4073 (P = 0.007).
A strong linkage disequilibrium existed between the rs4073 and rs2227306, both associating equally with the studied variables.
Conclusions :
High IL-8 production by blood cells seems to be associated with the presence of fluid in OCTs during anti-VEGF treatment and with the genotype of rs4073 showing strong linkage disequilibrium with the rs2227306.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.