title: Multiplex bead array assay of plasma cytokines in type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the roles of plasma cytokines in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and their relationship with the severity of DR.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 59 diabetic patients and 19 non-diabetic controls. The plasma concentrations of endothelial growth factor (EGF), eotaxin, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), Flt-3 ligand (Flt-3L), fractalkine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), growth-related oncogene (GRO), interferon (IFN)-α2, IFN-γ, interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-1Ra, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12 (p40), IL-12 (p70), IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, IFN-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, MCP-3, macrophage-derived cytokine (MDC), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, MIP-1β, sCD40L, sIL-2Rα, transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- α, TNF-β, and VEGF were measured with Luminex multiplex bead immunoassay. The levels of these cytokines were investigated according to the DR stage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma level of ten cytokines-MCP-1, IL-6, IL-7, IL-9, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, sCD40L, sIL-2Rα and TNF-β-increased significantly in the diabetic group compared to the controls. The Flt-3L, IL-1Ra, IL-3, IL-5, and IL-12 (p40) levels were lower in the diabetic group than in the control group. The TNF-α plasma level was significantly elevated in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) compared with the levels in patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and patients with no apparent diabetic retinopathy (NDR).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TNF-α might be involved in the progression of DR, especially in the pathogenesis of PDR. TNF-α is a potential cytokine for the prognosis of DR and might act as a therapeutic target in DR.
authors.affiliation: Department of ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hang
authors.affiliation: Department of ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.
authors.forename: Songtao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.
authors.forename: Dongqing
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.
authors.forename: Qinghuai
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha