Serum cytokine alteration is associated with optic neuropathy in human primary open angle glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to compare human serum levels of TH1 and TH2 cytokines between 2 stages of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and nonglaucomatous controls.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients with primary POAG and 26 normal control subjects were enrolled into this study. The 32 patients with POAG were divided into 2 subgroups according to their mean defect (MD) with MD better than -12 dB and worse than -12 dB on the visual field. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to assay for the levels of TH1 cytokines serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-23, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interferon-gamma, and TH2 cytokines IL-4, IL-6 in the peripheral serum.


RESULTS
Patients with mild glaucomatous neuropathy exhibited significant elevations in IL-4 (P<0.0001) and IL-6 (P=0.0302) compared with the controls, whereas higher concentrations of IL-4 (P<0.0001) and IL-6 (P=0.0084) were found in patients with severe glaucomatous neuropathy. The level of IL-12p70 was significantly increased in both the MD >/=12 dB (P<0.0001) and MD <12 dB (P<0.0001) groups. A significant decrease in TNF-alpha levels were observed in MD <12 dB group compared with the controls (P=0.0464), and TNF-alpha levels in MD <12 dB group were lower than MD >/=12 dB group (P=0.0328). No significant differences in serum concentrations of IL-2, sIL-2R IL-12p40, IL-23 and interferon-gamma were found between MD <12 dB group, MD >or=12 dB group, and control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant alterations of serum TH1 and TH2 cytokines are associated with glaucoma, suggesting the possibility that abnormal immune environments contribute to the glaucomatous neuropathy of POAG.
Huang
Ping
P
Peking University Eye Center, Peking University Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Qi
Yue
Y
Xu
Yong-Sheng
YS
Liu
Jiahao
J
Liao
Duanping
D
Zhang
Samuel Shao-Min
SS
Zhang
Chun
C
D000368:Aged; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines