title: Cytokine and CXC chemokine expression patterns in aqueous humor of patients with presumed tuberculous uveitis.
abstract: Aqueous humor (AH) samples from 14 patients with presumed tuberculous uveitis (PTU), and 30 control patients were assayed for the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin IL-4, IL-12, IL-15, IL-17, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10, and the chemokines GRO-α/CXCL1, IL-8/CXCL8, MIG/CXCL9, IP-10/CXCL10 and SDF-1/CXCL12 with the use of a multiplex assay. Among cytokines, IL-4 and IL-12 were not detected. IL-15, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-10 levels in AH were significantly higher in patients than in controls (p<0.001; p=0.004; p<0.001; p<0.001; p<0.001, respectively). Among chemokines, SDF-1 levels did not differ significantly between patients and controls, whereas GRO-α, IL-8, MIG and IP-10 levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls (p=0.001; p<0.001; p<0.001; p<0.001, respectively). Mean GRO-α levels in AH of PTU patients were 6-fold higher than IL-8 levels and mean IP-10 levels were 15-fold higher than MIG levels. Clinical disease activity correlated significantly with the levels of IL-15, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IP-10. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant positive association between PTU and high levels of IFN-γ, IL-8, MIG and IP-10. These data suggest that both T helper (Th) Th(1) and Th(17) cells are involved in PTU and that the cytokine profile is polarized toward a Th(1) response. GRO-α and IP-10 might be involved in neutrophil and activated T lymphocyte chemoattraction in PTU, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. abuasrar@KSU.edu.sa
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abu El-Asrar
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Struyf
authors.forename: Dustan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kangave
authors.forename: Saleh A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Al-Obeidan
authors.forename: Ghislain
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Opdenakker
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Geboes
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Damme
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D016207:Cytokines