[Activated T lymphocytes in epiretinal membranes from eyes of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy].

PURPOSE

To investigate the potential contribution of immune-mediated processes to the development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR), an immunohistochemical study was undertaken to characterize the infiltrating immune cells in epiretinal membrances from the eyes of patients with PDR.

METHODS

A total of 15 PDR epiretinal membrane specimens obtained surgically from pars plans vitrectomy were studied by using a panel of monoclonal antibodies against T lymphocytes (CD4), interleukin-2(IL-2) and interleukin-2 recpetors(IL-2R).

RESULTS

Twelve of 15 specimens (80%) contained CD4-positive cells. IL-2 was found in 12 of 15 samples (80%), of which 11 also contained CD4-positive cells, and IL-2R was detected in 10 of 15 membranes(67%), of which 9 contained CD4-positive cells and released IL-2. Most of the IL-2R-positive membranes were from type I diabetic patients, 40% of them are younger than 40 years.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated the involvement of activated immune cells and release of lymphokine(s) in more than half of the diabetic epiretinal membranes tested and revealed that the processes of immune responses and the biological effects of lymphokines(s) may play an important part in the development of epiretinal membranes of PDR, especially in young-onset and type I diabetes.