title: Cytokines in aqueous humour and serum before and after corneal transplantation and during rejection.
abstract: Cytokine profiles in aqueous humour were studied in relation to corneal disease and subsequent corneal graft survival or rejection. Cytokine levels in samples obtained from eyes with clear grafts (n = 59) were all within the normal range. At the time of penetrating keratoplasty (n = 146), intraocular levels of IL-6 were increased in 38% (50/131), most markedly in eyes with previous allograft failure or herpetic stromal keratitis. The level of IL-10 was increased in 1 eye (n = 144) and of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in none. During rejection (n = 10), the levels of IL-6 in aqueous humour were increased in 75% (3/4), of IL-10 in 50% (3/6), of IL-4 in none (0/4) and of IFN-gamma in 40% (2/5). In conclusion, the levels of total protein and IL-6 were increased prior to penetrating keratoplasty in eyes with previous inflammation. These results could however not predict the final outcome of the graft. Increased intraocular levels of IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-gamma were observed during rejection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmo-Immunology, The Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands. b.vangelderen@ioi.knaw.nl
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: van Gelderen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Der Lelij
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peek
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Broersma
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Treffers
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ruijter
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Der Gaag
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000378:metabolism; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines