AIMS

To determine the intra-vitreous levels of two pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin-8 (IL-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)] and the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). In addition, the relationship between the profile of cytokines and PDR activity has also been evaluated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 22 consecutive diabetic patients with PDR (4 Type 1 and 18 Type 2) on whom a vitrectomy was performed. Sixteen age-matched non-diabetic patients with other conditions requiring vitrectomy, but in which the retina was not directly affected by neovascularization served as a control group. IL-8, MCP-1 and IL-10 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

The vitreal levels of both IL-8 and MCP-1 were strikingly higher in diabetic patients with PDR in comparison with the control group [173.5 (64-1670) vs. 49 pg/ml (25-145), P < 0.001, and 2171 (388-6155) vs. 438 pg/ml (207-1344), P < 0.001, respectively]. In addition, the vitreous concentrations of IL-8 and MCP-1 were higher in patients with active PDR than in those patients with quiescent PDR [324.5 (80-1670) vs. 173.5 pg/ml (64-487), P = 0.06 and 3596 (1670-6155) vs. 1143 pg/ml (388-2500), P = 0.01, respectively]. However, vitreal levels of IL-10 in diabetic patients were similar to that obtained in the control group [2.89 (1.55-5.50) vs. 2.46 pg/ml (2.2-5.41), P = NS].

CONCLUSIONS

The pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8 and MCP-1 are increased in the vitreous fluid of PDR patients without an increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. In addition, both IL-8 and MCP-1 intra-vitreous levels correlated with PDR activity, thus suggesting that these cytokines may be pathogenically important in PDR.