[Analysis of Cytokines Related to Helper T and Regulatory T Cells in the Vitreous of Uveitis Patients].

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate helper T (Th) cell-related cytokines elevated in the vitreous of endogenous uveitis (EU), and to compare these with those of acute retinal necrosis (ARN). METHODS: Vitreous fluids were obtained from 23 eyes of EU patients, 4 eyes of ARN patients, and 14 eyes of patients with epiretinal membrane (ERM) who had had vitrectomy surgery. The vitreous levels of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-25, IL-31, IL-33, interferon (IFN)-γ, soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured. RESULTS: The vitreous cytokine levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-31, IFN-γ and TNF-α in the EU patients were significantly higher than in the ERM patients. On the other hand, the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, IL-31, IFN-γ, sCD40L and TNF-α were significantly higher in the ARN patients than in the EU patients, while those of IL-4, IL-17A and IL-22 were higher in the EU patients than in the ARN patients although they were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that Th1-, Th2- and Th17 cells are related to the development of EU, and Th1- and regulatory T cells to that of ARN, and that the severity of ocular inflammation may be associated with the activity of Th1 cells.