Effects of Awakening and the Use of Topical Dexamethasone and Levofloxacin on the Cytokine Levels in Tears Following Corneal Transplantation

Abstract

Objectives. To study the short-term effect of eye opening and use of topical dexamethasone phosphate 0.1% and levofloxacin 0.5% on the cytokine levels in human tears. Methods. Prospective experimental design was used for tear collection from eyes of 10 healthy controls and 20 patients four days after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) at awakening and after instilling dexamethasone or levofloxacin. The concentrations of different cytokines were measured by cytometric bead array. Results. At eye opening, IL-6 levels were higher in the PKP group as compared to the controls. Thirty minutes later, the released levels of IL-10, IL-13, IL-17, IFNγ, and CCL5 increased in controls, while CXCL8 decreased in both control and PKP groups. The release of the cytokines remained stable after 30 mins except for IFNγ, which showed a decrease in the controls following levofloxacin instillation. No short-term effects of the topically used dexamethasone and levofloxacin could be detected on the cytokine levels in controls and after PKP. Conclusions. Evidence of changes in the levels and time course of tear cytokines after awakening or eye opening could be established and the short-term confounding effects of dexamethasone and levofloxacin on the levels of released cytokines in human tears could be excluded.

Tear Film Cytokine Profile of Patients With the Boston Keratoprosthesis Type 1: Comparing Patients With and Without Glaucoma

“…Second, cytokine levels have been shown to be similar between eyes with and without use of topical steroids, quinolones, or NSAID drops in prior studies. 27,45,[88][89][90] Reports have highlighted that cytokine concentrations are poorly affected by topical treatment and that glaucoma is truly an inflammatory pathology. 33,91 Nonetheless, the preservatives contained in glaucoma eye drops may cause ocular surface and anterior chamber inflammation and affect cytokine levels.…”

Resolvin E1 Inhibits Corneal Allograft Rejection in High-Risk Corneal Transplantation

“…45 IL-6 is a proinflammatory factor in a variety of irritating eye diseases, and is found to be upstream of IL-17 in the Th17 differentiation pathway. 16,46,47 IL-17A recruits T cells and neutrophils, and promotes the Th1-related immunity. 48 Our results suggest that RvE1 treatment improves the survival of corneal grafts via suppressing the Th1/Th17 immune responses.…”