Increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-6 in the aqueous humor of diabetics with macular edema

Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for macular oedema owing to retinal vein occlusion

“…Other triamcinolone-mediated effects may include the inhibition of other proinflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes (involved in the pathogenesis of pseudophakic macular oedema 19 ) and the inhibition of protein kinase C (implicated in VEGF-induced retinal permeability seen in diabetic macular oedema 20 ). However, these effects do not directly address the underlying pathophysiological abnormalities that cause venous occlusion and this study suggests that despite an initial response to intravitreal triamcinolone injection, macular oedema will recur and appears to become increasingly resistant to the effects of intravitreal corticosteroid through a poorly understood mechanism.…”

The −174G/C interleukin-6 promoter polymorphism influences the development of macular oedema following uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery

“…Given the data linking diabetic macular oedema to elevated interleukin-6 levels in the human eye, 8,9 it is entirely conceivable that this important multifunctional cytokine may have an important role to play in the development of CMO in non-diabetics. CMO is a result of leakage from perifoveal capillaries, and IL-6 may mediate this through increasing the expression of VEGF, 16 a potent factor in the modulation of vascular permeability.…”

“…8 Another study found elevated levels of IL-6 in the aqueous humour in patients with diabetic macular oedema, 9 with increasing levels of IL-6 correlating with the severity of macular oedema. Funatsu et al 10 found that the preoperative aqueous concentration of IL-6 was a predictor of subsequent macular oedema following phacoemulsification in patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.…”

Proteomics in ocular fluids

“…Analysis of the protein composition of serum and the vitreous humor of proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients revealed three vitreous-specific proteins, pigment epithelium-derived factor, prostaglandin-D2 synthase, and interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein, which were not found in corresponding serum samples [50]. A correlation between VEGF and interleukin-6 levels in aqueous humor could be demonstrated [135], suggesting they are co-expressed and involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema. Another study analyzing the vitreous humor of patients with diabetic macular edema presented distinct protein differences between diabetic patients with and without macular edema [56].…”