Identification of intraocular inflammatory mediators in patients with endophthalmitis.
OBJECTIVE
Endophthalmitis is mediated by inflammatory cytokines. We employed a quantitative antibody array, which profiles protein expression and function in a high-throughput manner, to identify inflammatory mediators in the infectious aqueous and vitreous humor from patients with endophthalmitis.


METHODS
In this prospective study, aqueous humor (AH) and vitreous humor (VH) samples were obtained from 30 patients with endophthalmitis and were collected during anterior chamber paracentesis and vitrectomy. Control samples were obtained from 32 healthy donors. We examined the expression of 20 inflammatory mediators in AH and VH using a quantitative antibody protein array. Hierarchical cluster analysis based on the expression of the quantified cytokines was applied to identify the specificity of endophthalmitis disease. Validation analysis using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to confirm the expression of the cytokines identified in the AH and VH samples.


RESULTS
Our results demonstrated elevated expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-3α in AH or VH from patients with endophthalmitis. The concentration of IL-17 was upregulated in AH from the patients. The expression of IL-2, IL-5, IL-21, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 was downregulated in AH from the patients. The cluster analysis demonstrated that the cytokine profile expression in AH or VH significantly differed between the patients with endophthalmitis and the healthy controls. Confirmation with ELISA validated the increase in IL-1β, IL-6, and MIP-3α in the AH and VH samples from the patients with endophthalmitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, and MIP-3α and decreased expression of IL-2, IL-5, IL-21, and TGF-β in the AH and VH suggests an abnormal cytokine profile in patients with endophthalmitis. Knowledge of this will aid in the diagnosis of infectious endophthalmitis.
State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology,Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center,Sun Yat-Sen University,Guangzhou, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Xiaoli
X
Hao
State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology,Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center,Sun Yat-Sen University,Guangzhou, China.
Changxian
C
Yi
The Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Yuqin
Y
Wang
The Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Jin
J
Li
The Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Fang
F
Huang
State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology,Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center,Sun Yat-Sen University,Guangzhou, China.
Liwen
L
He
State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology,Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center,Sun Yat-Sen University,Guangzhou, China.
Wei
W
Chi
D000328:Adult; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
D016207:Cytokines; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators