Conjunctival epithelial cell expression of interleukins and inflammatory markers in glaucoma patients treated over the long term.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the conjunctival epithelial cell expressions of inflammatory cytokines in normal subjects and in glaucoma patients treated over the long term.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
A total of 69 glaucoma patients treated over the long term and 15 normal subjects with no ocular abnormality or topical treatment.


METHODS
Amongst the 69 glaucoma patients, 27 were treated with preserved beta-blockers, 24 with unpreserved 0.5% timolol, and the other 18 patients with an association of > or =2 preserved drugs. All patients were treated for more than 1 year with the same treatment, with no significant differences between groups for mean ages and durations of treatment at the time of the study. Impression cytology specimens were taken and processed for immunofluorescence techniques. Conjunctival cell expressions of HLA DR, as a standard for inflammatory level, and the interleukins IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were obtained and quantified using flow cytometry.


METHODS
Immune markers and proinflammatory cytokines in impression cytology specimens.


RESULTS
We found a significantly increased expression of all immunoinflammatory markers and mediators in the conjunctival epithelium of glaucoma patients compared with normal eyes. Human leukocyte antigen DR was significantly higher in the 2 groups receiving preserved drugs than in the unpreserved timolol group. The 3 interleukins were similarly overexpressed in all glaucoma groups, with no significant between-groups differences except for the expression level of IL-8, which was significantly higher in the multitreatment group than in the preservative-free one.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study confirms the increased expression of immunoinflammatory markers by the conjunctival epithelium of glaucoma patients treated over the long term. The development of nontoxic preservatives or preservative-free solutions is therefore of great interest.
Baudouin
Christophe
C
Department of Ophthalmology, Quinze-Vingts National Ophthalmology Hospital, APHP, Paris-Ouest School of Medicine, University of Versailles, Paris, France. baudouin@quinze-vingts.fr
Hamard
Pascale
P
Liang
Hong
H
Creuzot-Garcher
Catherine
C
Bensoussan
Larry
L
Brignole
Françoise
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007378:Interleukins; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical