Vitreal Cytokine Profile Differences Between Eyes With Epiretinal Membranes or Macular Holes

Abstract

PURPOSE. Cytokines play an important role in cell signaling in inflammatory and repair processes, also within the posterior segment of the eye. These molecules are thus implicated in the pathophysiology of several vitreoretinal diseases. In the present study, we compared vitreal cytokine profiles in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membranes (ERMs) and idiopathic full-thickness macular holes (MHs) without epiretinal membranes.METHODS. Native vitreal humor was collected during elective pars plana vitrectomy for the treatment of macular pathologies (group 1: ERM; group 2: MH) from patients without any other ocular or systemic disease. The concentrations of 43 chemokines and cytokines were measured in parallel by multiplex beads analysis. Intergroup comparisons were conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test and Bonferroni's correction, at a level of significance of P < 0.0012. RESULTS.Vitreal samples from 31 patients with ERMs (group 1) and from 30 with MHs (group 2) were analyzed. For 12 of the tested cytokines (GM-CSF, MCP-1, MIF, CCL15, CCL20, CCL17, CX3CL1, CXCL10, CXCL16, and TGF-b-1, -2, and -3), no intergroup differences were revealed; for the other 31, the concentrations were higher in the ERM than in the MH group (P < 0.0012 in each case).CONCLUSIONS. The vitreal levels of 72% of the tested cytokines were higher in ERM than in MH. This indicates that even in the absence of clinical markers, activation of inflammatory and profibrotic mechanisms is implicated in the progression of ERMs. Although frequently used as such in the past, eyes with ERMs should be considered with caution as a healthy control group.

Prevalence of anti‐retinal antibodies in epiretinal membranes and macular holes

“…The higher intraocular IgG levels in patients with ERMs than in those with MHs reinforces existing evidence that the intraocular inflammatory mechanism plays a greater role in ERMs than in MHs . Furthermore, the similar intraocular level of ARAs in patients with ERMs and MHs suggests that the inflammation in the former is not mediated through ARAs, thus adaptive immunity.…”

“…The intraocular activation of inflammatory and profibrotic mechanisms has been implicated in the progression of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) . However, the source of the inflammation is unknown.…”

Cytokine profiles of phakic and pseudophakic eyes with primary retinal detachment

“…Moreover, we based our analysis on maximally possible homogenous groups of patients after exclusion not only of ocular, but also systemic, comorbidities and their treatments (Zandi et al. ). In this study, we also aimed to evaluate a potential influence of the lens status on the cytokine milieu in eyes with RD, but failed to detect relevant differences in the biologic milieu between phakic and pseudophakic states.…”

“…Whereas in the majority of those publications, an arbitrary selection of few cytokines was analysed, we intended to reveal a whole environmental cytokine change by analysing a broad set of cytokines previously reported as abundant. Moreover, we based our analysis on maximally possible homogenous groups of patients after exclusion not only of ocular, but also systemic, comorbidities and their treatments (Zandi et al 2016). In this study, we also aimed to evaluate a potential influence of the lens status on the cytokine milieu in eyes with RD, but failed to detect relevant differences in the biologic milieu between phakic and pseudophakic states.…”

Aqueous Humor Levels of Cytokines and Growth Factors in Patients with Congenital Aniridia

“…Поскольку интраокулярный фиброз часто ассоциирован с острым или хроническим воспалительным процессом и ангиогенезом (рост эпиретинальных мембран, пролиферативная диабетическая ретинопатия (ПДР), возрастная макулярная дегенерация, ретинопатия недоношенных и пр. [7][8][9]), важно было оценить содержание провоспалительных цитокинов и ангиогенных фактора роста (VEGF) у пациентов с ВА и сравнить их концентрацию с группой пациентов без аниридии. Анализ показал отсутствие статистически значимых различий в уровне основных медиаторов воспаления (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-17A и MCP-1) между группами (р > 0,05).…”