Increased serum levels of CXCL8 chemokine in acute toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.
OBJECTIVE
Chemokines have been implicated in the control of leucocyte infiltration in uveitis and in modulating angiogenesis in several ocular conditions. Toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is a common cause of posterior uveitis. This study aimed to evaluate the serum concentrations of CC and CXC chemokines in patients with acute toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.


METHODS
The levels of five chemokines (CCL2, CCL11, CXCL9, CXCL8 and CXCL10) were evaluated in the serum of patients with active toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (n = 55) and control subjects (n = 40). In a subset of patients (n = 18), a second measure of serum levels of chemokines was performed after the completion of oral treatment with pyrimethamine (25 mg/day), sulphadiazine (1 g, four times per day), folinic acid (7.5 mg/day) and prednisone (initial dose: 1 mg/kg/day) for approximately 30 days.


RESULTS
Patients with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis, notably those presenting with vasculitis, had increased serum levels of CXCL8 (mean +/- standard error of the mean [SEM] 35.1 +/- 6.5 pg/ml) compared with control subjects (mean +/- SEM 16.0 +/- 2.3 pg/ml; p = 0.01). There were no differences between patients and controls in serum levels of the other chemokines measured. The size of ocular lesions correlated significantly with serum levels of CXCL8 and CXCL9. After treatment, there was a significant reduction in serum levels of CXCL8. Severity of vitreous opacities did not correlate with serum levels of these chemokines.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest a role for CXCL8 in the inflammatory process of acute toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. Furthermore, CXCL8 may be a useful marker for patient follow-up.
Gonçalves
Roberto Martins
RM
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Rodrigues
David Henrique
DH
Camargos da Costa
Alinne Maria
AM
Teixeira
Mauro Martins
MM
Ribeiro Campos
Wesley
W
Oréfice
Fernando
F
Teixeira
Antônio Lúcio
AL
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002825:Chorioretinitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013411:Sulfadiazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000188:drug therapy; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000469:parasitology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D016209:Interleukin-8; D013411:Sulfadiazine; D002955:Leucovorin; D011241:Prednisone; D011739:Pyrimethamine