High levels of interleukin-12 in the aqueous humor and vitreous of patients with uveitis.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the role of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in initiation and maintenance of intraocular inflammation.

DESIGN

Case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Aqueous humor and vitreous levels of IL-12 and IL-10 were measured in 22 patients with uveitis undergoing cataract surgery, paracentesis of the anterior chamber, and/or vitrectomy for diagnostic reasons, and in 4 patients with cataract only.

INTERVENTION

Aqueous humor and vitreous levels of IL-12 and IL-10 were measured with specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Disease activity was correlated to IL-12 levels in the aqueous humor and the vitreous of patients with uveitis.

RESULTS

Cytokine levels found in the anterior chamber and the vitreous are presented in picogram/milliliter (medium; range). The highest IL-12 levels were found in patients with active uveitis (108.5 pg/ml; 72-293 pg/ml). Interleukin-12 in patients with moderate uveitis or with their disease in remission was lower (32 pg/ml; 15-94 pg/ml) than in patients with active disease (P > 0.001) but higher than in the control group (10.5 pg/ml; 9-14 pg/ml). Interleukin-10 was detectable in only 3 of 22 patients with uveitis (12 pg/ml; 9-23 pg/ml).

CONCLUSION

The authors found statistically significant differences of IL-12 levels in the various patient groups (active vs. inactive vs. control). These results support the idea that these uveitis cases represent type 1 (Th1)-T lymphocyte-mediated diseases in which IL-12 plays a pivotal role in the initiation and maintenance of the intraocular inflammation. The high levels of IL-12 in the vitreous and/or aqueous humor of the patients with uveitis suggest that susceptibility or resistance to ocular autoimmunity may be connected to a genetic predisposition to an elevated Th1 response.