Moura Gustavo Souza, Santos Albert, Cenedeze Marcos Antonio, Hiyane Meire Ioshie, Camara Niels Olsen Saraiva, Barbosa de Sousa Luciene, Augusto de Oliveira Lauro
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, UNIFESP.
Sorocaba Eye Bank, Hospital Oftalmológico de Sorocaba, Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
Mol Vis. 2021 Dec 7;27:656-665. eCollection 2021.
This study aimed to characterize the tear film immunologic profile in keratoconus (KC) patients compared with healthy individuals (control group) and to investigate the correlation between the tear film immunologic profile and atopy, disease severity, and disease status over time.
The study involved 30 KC patients and 18 healthy individuals. Tear collection was obtained using microcapillary tubes. Tear film levels of fractalkine, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-21, IL-23, interferon-inducible T-cell alpha chemoattractant (ITAC), macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1α), MIP-1β, MIP-3α, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were detected. Keratometric measurements and topographic patterns were used to diagnose and define disease progression. Tear immunologic profiles were compared, emphasizing the presence or absence of ocular allergy. Correlations between the cytokine profile, disease severity, and disease status were also analyzed longitudinally in the KC patients.
Lacrimal cytokine concentrations were higher in the KC patients than they were in the controls in 14 of 21 cytokines analyzed. IL-6 was the most relevant cytokine found in KC patients, especially when associated with ocular allergy. There was no correlation between KC progression and the level of inflammatory cytokines when analyzed longitudinally. KC severity correlated with IL-6 concentration, where the more severe KC presented a higher IL-6 concentration in tears.
Inflammatory activity seems to be involved in the pathogenesis of KC. Out of 21 cytokines, 14 were more concentrated in the tears of KC patients than healthy subjects. IL-6 was significantly higher in KC patients' tears and was related to disease severity. Disease progression did not correlate with cytokine levels when analyzed longitudinally.
本研究旨在描述圆锥角膜(KC)患者与健康个体(对照组)泪膜的免疫特征,并研究泪膜免疫特征与特应性、疾病严重程度及疾病随时间变化状态之间的相关性。
本研究纳入30例KC患者和18例健康个体。使用微量毛细管收集泪液。检测泪膜中趋化因子、粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(GM-CSF)、干扰素(IFN)-γ、白细胞介素(IL)-1β、IL-2、IL-4、IL-5、IL-6、IL-7、IL-8、IL-10、IL-12、IL-13、IL-17A、IL-21、IL-23、干扰素诱导T细胞α趋化因子(ITAC)、巨噬细胞炎性蛋白-1α(MIP-1α)、MIP-1β、MIP-3α和肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-α的水平。采用角膜曲率测量和地形图模式来诊断和定义疾病进展。比较泪液免疫特征,重点关注眼部过敏的有无。还对KC患者的细胞因子谱、疾病严重程度和疾病状态之间的相关性进行了纵向分析。
在分析的21种细胞因子中,有14种细胞因子在KC患者泪液中的浓度高于对照组。IL-6是在KC患者中发现的最相关的细胞因子,尤其是与眼部过敏相关时。纵向分析时,KC进展与炎性细胞因子水平之间无相关性。KC严重程度与IL-6浓度相关,KC越严重,泪液中IL-6浓度越高。
炎症活动似乎参与了KC的发病机制。在21种细胞因子中,有14种在KC患者泪液中的浓度高于健康受试者。KC患者泪液中IL-6显著升高,且与疾病严重程度相关。纵向分析时,疾病进展与细胞因子水平无相关性。