Pathology Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Ophthalmology Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2019 Oct;244(14):1144-1148. doi: 10.1177/1535370219870783. Epub 2019 Aug 19.
Intravitreal injection of interferon alpha-2b (IFN-α2b) is used to treat uveitis but its effect on the choroid is unknown. We histologically evaluated the choroidal changes after intravitreal injection of IFN-α2b. We compared histological samples of IFN-α2b-injected eyes to eyes with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced uveitis and eyes injected with balanced salt solution (BSS) as controls. Rabbit eyes received intravitreal injections of BSS, IFN-α2b, or LPS, and enucleation was done seven days later. Choroidal changes were evaluated on histological cut sections. The thickness of the choroid was measured in micrometer and the severity of inflammation was scored. The mean maximum choroidal thickness was significantly greater in the IFN-α2b group in comparison to the LPS and BSS groups ( < 0.001). The mean minimum choroidal thickness was also significantly greater in the IFN group compared to the BSS group ( = 0.009). The observed changes were mainly due to vasodilation rather than interstitial fluid retention or inflammation. Mild inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the choroid of four eyes in the IFN group and of three eyes in the LPS group. No inflammation was seen in the control group. The difference in inflammatory cell infiltration between the LPS and IFN groups was not statistically significant. Significant choroidal hyperemia was present after injection of IFN-α2b. This fact may suggest for some pharmacological applications of IFN-α2b when increased choroidal circulation is needed. However, further studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms involved.
Type I interferons are proteins that are naturally secreted by cells in response to certain stimuli. They are approved for medical use to regulate immune responses in many disease states. Our findings of increased choroidal circulation after treatment of the eye with interferon alpha-2b indicate a possible effect of this cytokine on blood circulation. This is a novel finding that needs further investigation to elucidate mechanisms and applications.
玻璃体内注射干扰素 α-2b（IFN-α2b）用于治疗葡萄膜炎，但对脉络膜的作用尚不清楚。我们通过组织学评估了玻璃体内注射 IFN-α2b 后的脉络膜变化。我们将 IFN-α2b 注射眼与脂多糖（LPS）诱导的葡萄膜炎眼和作为对照的平衡盐溶液（BSS）注射眼的组织学样本进行比较。兔子眼接受 BSS、IFN-α2b 或 LPS 的玻璃体内注射，7 天后眼球摘除。在组织学切片上评估脉络膜变化。以微米为单位测量脉络膜厚度，并对炎症严重程度进行评分。IFN-α2b 组的脉络膜最大厚度平均值明显大于 LPS 组和 BSS 组（<0.001）。IFN 组的脉络膜最小厚度平均值也明显大于 BSS 组（=0.009）。观察到的变化主要是由于血管扩张，而不是间质液潴留或炎症。IFN 组的四只眼和 LPS 组的三只眼的脉络膜中观察到轻度炎症细胞浸润。对照组未见炎症。LPS 组和 IFN 组之间炎症细胞浸润的差异无统计学意义。玻璃体内注射 IFN-α2b 后可见明显的脉络膜充血。这一事实可能表明，在需要增加脉络膜循环的情况下，IFN-α2b 具有一些药理学应用。然而，需要进一步的研究来阐明所涉及的机制。
I 型干扰素是细胞在受到某些刺激时自然分泌的蛋白质。它们被批准用于医疗用途，以调节许多疾病状态下的免疫反应。我们发现，用干扰素 α-2b 治疗眼睛后脉络膜循环增加，这表明这种细胞因子可能对血液循环有影响。这是一个需要进一步研究以阐明机制和应用的新发现。
