Discrepant Expression of Cytokines in Inflammation- and Age-Related Cataract Patients

Abstract

PurposeInflammatory cataracts secondary to Behcet's disease (BD) or Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) are thought to result from a pathological dysregulation of cytokines that is different from that of age-related (AR) cataracts. However, little is known about the function of cytokines in the development of inflammatory cataracts. The purpose of this study was to identify possible differences in cytokine expression in inflammation- and age-related cataract patients.MethodsAnalysis techniques involving the concomitant use of a cocktail of antibody-coated non-magnetic beads were used to determine the cytokine expression profiles of BD, VKH and AR cataract patients. Furthermore, anterior chamber aqueous flares and inflammatory cells were quantitatively measured with a laser flare cell meter (LFCM).ResultsThe expressions of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were analyzed in aqueous humor (AqH), phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated and non-PHA-stimulated cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the three types of cataract patients. IL-6 and IFN-γ were identified above the detection limits, but, among the BD and VKH cataract patients, only the levels of IL-6 were significantly higher in both the AqH and PBMC non-PHA cultures compared with the levels observed in the AR cataract patients. In contrast, IFN-γ was significantly elevated in the AqH of the BD cataract patients compared with the VKH and AR cataract patients. In the PHA-stimulated PBMC cultures, IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-17A were significantly increased, and the IL-6 level was significantly higher in the VKH patients than in the BD and AR cataract patients. The correlation analyses of the cytokines and inflammation indexes of the AqH obtained with the LFCM revealed that only IL-6 was significantly correlated with the inflammation index.ConclusionDistinct expression profiles of cytokines and the correlations of these profiles with in vivo inflammatory indexes for inflammatory and AR cataract patients were identified.

Age-Related Cataract Is Associated with Elevated Serum Immunoglobulin E Levels in the South Korean Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Previous research has revealed that ocular inflammation induced by systemic risk factors—such as smoking, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic disorders—influence cataract formation [31,32]. The major biochemical explanation for this association is that inflammation in the aqueous humor leads to oxidation of the lens proteins [33]. Previous researchers have found that nitric oxide in the aqueous humor, which is induced by several cytokines, may play an important role in the development of age-related cataract [34].…”

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: review of a rare autoimmune disease targeting antigens of melanocytes

“…Active VKHD has also been associated with a diminished function of regulatory T cells (CD4 + CD25 high regulatory) [ 47 ]. Concerning innate inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, Chen et al described significantly higher levels in aqueous humor of VKHD cataract patients as compared to age-related cataract patients [ 5 , 48 ].…”

Association Between Serum Complement C3 Levels and Age-Related Cataract

“…26 Several studies reported that the levels of aqueous humor inflammatory factor increased in cataract patients. 27,28 Ram et al 29 reported that patients with lower levels of C3 are recognized to be more susceptible to infection. The C3-mediated immune response may be a major trigger of systemic inflammation and systemic inflammation is involved in the progression of ARC 26,30,31 ; we hypothesized that ARC patients tend to be more susceptible to infection, which can cause a further decrease in serum C3.…”