T cell subsets and sIL-2R/IL-2 levels in patients with glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesize that cellular immunity may have a previously unrecognized role in glaucomatous optic neuropathy. The purpose of this study is to analyze subsets of T cells and the levels of cytokine IL-2 and the soluble IL-2 receptor in peripheral blood from patients with normal pressure glaucoma (NPG) or primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in comparison to age-matched control subjects.


METHODS
In this study, 38 patients (20 NPG; 18 POAG) and 19 controls were included. sIL-2R and IL-2 were assayed by ELISA. T cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry and lymphocyte proliferation was used to measure the reactive ability of T cells to phytohemagglutinin (PHA).


RESULTS
The frequency of CD8(+)HLA-DR(+) lymphocytes were increased in patients with NPG (P = 0.008), and CD3(+)CD8(+) lymphocytes increased in both NPG (P = 0.03) and POAG patients (P = 0.0004). CD5(+) lymphocytes were higher only in POAG patients (P = 0.0012). In comparison to controls, the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) lymphocytes was similar in both groups. The mean concentrations of sIL-2R in NPG (P = 0.011) and POAG (P = 0.0023) patients were higher than that found in control subjects although IL-2 concentrations were similar in these groups. In addition, the reactive ability of T lymphocytes to the non-specific reagent (PHA) was reduced significantly in NPG (P = 0.02) and POAG patients (P=0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
The alterations of the cellular immune system in patients with glaucoma support our hypothesis that the immune system may play an important role in the initiation and/or sustainment of glaucomatous optic neuropathy in some patients.
Yang
J
J
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Patil
R V
RV
Yu
H
H
Gordon
M
M
Wax
M B
MB
D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2