Abstract
Purpose :
To determine whether tear levels of cytokines and chemokines could be used as a potential reliable biomarker in patients with uveitis and its correlation with plasma levels.
Methods :
Twelve cytokines/chemokines were measured in tear and plasma samples of 22 patients diagnosed with active anterior, intermediate, posterior or panuveitis. Patients underwent standard treatment for uveitis were followed longitudinally over 6 months. At that time tear and plasma samples for measurements of the same of cytokines. Levels of these molecules in tears and plasma were compared and associated with degree of activity of the uveitis.
Results :
Tear interleukin (IL)-6 percentage of detection was significantly reduced in the inactive phase (p<0.05). Tear concentration of epidermal growth factor (EGF), Fractalkine, IL-8, IL-1RA, interferon-inducible protein (IP)-10/CXCL10, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and IL-6, comparing the active and inactive period were not statistically different. Plasma concentration of EGF, Fractalkine, IL1-β, IL-17A, IL1RA, IL-2, IL-23, IL-8, IP-10, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, VEGF and IL-6, comparing the active and inactive period was not statistically significant. The levels of EGF, fractalkine, IL1-β, IL-17A, IL-1RA, IL-2, IL-23, IL-8, IP-10, TNF- α and IL-6 in patients with uveitis in their active/inactive phase were statistically different (P<0.05) to their counterpart levels in plasma. However, the difference between the tear and plasma levels of VEGF was not statistically significant (P>0.05).
Conclusions :
No isolated cytokine/chemokine in the tear has been found, which concentration could be used as a potential biomarker of treatment response. Furthermore, apart from the VEGF, the cytokine/chemokine concentration in tears was independent of the plasma counterparts.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.