Expression of mRNA for interleukin 6 by cells infiltrating epiretinal membranes in proliferative vitreoretinopathy

Abstract

We have investigated the expression of mRNA for interleukin 6 (IL-6) in cells infiltrating 12 epiretinal membranes, and the presence of biologically active IL-6 in vitreous humour available from five corresponding eyes. The results showed that nine of the 12 membranes (75%) contained cells expressing mRNA for this cytokine. Although in two of the specimens pigmented cells were identified as some of the cells expressing mRNA for IL-6, we did not identify the nature of IL-6 mRNA-producing cells infiltrating the membranes. Interestingly, two vitreous samples from eyes whose membranes did not contain cells with mRNA for IL-6 exhibited significant concentrations of IL-6 (315 and 28 micrograms/ml). Parallel study of mRNA for IL-6 in PVR biopsies and of IL-6 levels in corresponding vitreous may indicate how cytokine-mediated pathways of inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of epiretinal membrane formation.

Increased Cytokine Gene Expression in Rat Retina following Transient Ischemia

“…Increasing evidence suggests that inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, TNF, IL-6 and TGF-Pi are involved in the pathogenic process of PVR and PDR. These cytokines have been identified in the epiretinal membrane or the vitreous of patients with PVR or PDR [1][2][3][4][5]. In vitro studies have shown that retinal pigment epithelial cells can synthesize mRNA or proteins for these cyto kines in response to inflammatory stimuli [9,[17][18][19][20][21][22], Our results suggest that retinal isch emia causes up-regulation of gene expression for these cytokines in retinal ischemic dis eases.…”

“…Inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various retinal diseases such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) [1][2][3][4][5]. Recently we showed that transient reti nal ischemia up-regulated interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene expression in rat retina [6], It is, there fore, possible that retinal ischemia causes upregulation of other inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the retina.…”

Silicone oil concentrates fibrogenic growth factors in the retro-oil fluid

“…Cells with IL-6 mRNA expression have been found in PVR epiretinal membranes 20 and previous work has also have shown that the vitreous levels of IL-6 are significantly raised in vitreous samples obtained from patients with PVR. 18 19 21 The consistent finding of raised IL-6 levels is evidence for its role in the marked blood-retinal barrier breakdown seen in PVR.…”

Secretion of Cytokines by Human Choroidal Melanoma Cells and Skin Melanoma Cell Lines in vitro

“…The large amounts of these cytokines produced by choroidal melanomas could contribute to the inflammation process of exudative retinal detachment. The detectable levels of these cytokines may indicate a cytokine-mediated pathway of inflammation involved in the pathogenesis of PVR, too [23]. Furthermore, the large amounts of IL-8 detectable in the supernatants of choroidal melanoma correlate with the findings in human cutaneous melanomas [5].…”