Inflammatory Markers in the Tears of Patients with Ocular Surface Disease

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the concentration of interleukins (IL-1β and -6) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (pro-MMP-9) in the tears of patients with different ocular surface diseases and to examine the possible relationship between the disorders and molecular inflammation. Methods: 77 patients diagnosed as having different ocular surface disorders and 18 normal control subjects were studied. Patients were routinely examined and separated into 5 groups: (1) control, (2) blepharitis, (3) ocular allergic disease, (4) dry eye and (5) conjunctivochalasis. Ten microliters of tears were collected by a Weck cell sponge. The concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6 and pro-MMP-9 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the MMP-9 activity was evaluated with gelatin zymography. Results: Levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in tear fluid were significantly higher in conjunctivochalasis (p = 0.0062 and p = 0.0134) than in the control group. Pro-MMP-9 levels were significantly elevated in blepharitis (p = 0.013), in allergic eye disease, in dry eye and in conjunctivochalasis (all p < 0.001), in comparison to controls. Conclusions: Pro-MMP-9 levels in tears are elevated in all of the studied pathologies especially in ocular allergy and conjunctivochalasis. However, IL-1β and IL-6 were only found to be overexpressed in conjunctivochalasis. These findings illustrate the selective implication of different molecules in each disorder.

PTX3 Controls Activation of Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 and Apoptosis in Conjunctivochalasis Fibroblasts

“…3), one likely reason to explain PTX3 overexpression in CCh is the presence of a higher level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in CCh patients' tear meniscus. 5,7 The presence of the dimeric PTX3 protein in culture media of CCh fibroblasts suggests that PTX3 was secreted and might exert anti-inflammatory function extracellularly.…”

“…[2][3][4] The pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-a and IL-1b are elevated in tears of CCh patients. [5][6][7] The coexisting ocular surface inflammation might further be aggravated by delayed tear clearance, which is frequently related to CCh. [8][9][10] It remains unclear whether ocular surface inflammation might be causatively linked to CCh.…”

EMMPRIN Modulates Epithelial Barrier Function through a MMP–Mediated Occludin Cleavage

“…[7][8][9][10][11] Increased MMP-9 levels were also observed in the tear fluid of patients with dry eye syndrome. 7,10,12 Hence, MMP-9 was suggested to be responsible for the cellular responses in dry eye syndrome, but the factors behind its deregulated production have not been determined.…”

Metabolómica de la lágrima

“…como oculares (ojo seco, conjuntivitis alérgica, queratocono, conjuntivocalasia, pterigion, etc.) 5,6 .Estos estudios se ocupan fundamentalmente de la proteó-mica de la lágrima, con menor número de investigaciones sobre lipidómica y metabolómica, englobando entre todas las disciplinas el estudio integral de la misma. En la proteó-mica existen plataformas de alto rendimiento para su análisis, mientras que en lipidómica y metabolómica, están menos desarrolladas, dada la dificultad de detección de metabolitos, por las pequeñas cantidades existentes en lágrima y el pequeño volumen de recogida.…”

“…como oculares (ojo seco, conjuntivitis alérgica, queratocono, conjuntivocalasia, pterigion, etc.) 5,6 .…”