Increased lacrimal inflammatory mediators in patients with keratoconus

Author(s)

Moura, Gustavo Souza ^{[1, 2]} ; Santos, Albert ^[1] ; Cenedeze, Marcos Antonio ^[3] ; Hiyane, Meire Ioshie ^[4] ; Saraiva Camara, Niels Olsen ^{[4, 3]} ; de Sousa, Luciene Barbosa ^[1] ; de Oliveira, Lauro Augusto ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ophthalmol & Visual Sci, UNIFESP, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Hosp Oftalmol Sorocaba, Sorocaba Eye Bank, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Nephrol Div, UNIFESP, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Immunol, Inst Biomed Sci 4, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MOLECULAR VISION; v. 27, p. 656-665, DEC 7 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Purpose: 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. Methods: 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)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, 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-1 alpha), MIP-1 beta, MIP-3 alpha, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/15720-1 - Characterization of tear film inflammatory mediators and of cytologic profile from the ocular surface of patients presenting graft-versus-host-disease
• Grantee: Lauro Augusto de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants