Ophthalmology in China ›› 2021, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (6): 449-452.doi: 10.13281/j.cnki.issn.1004-4469.2021.06.008

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Levels of IL-1β and IL-1Ra in aqueous humor and serum of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Lin Zhong1, Niu Tongtong2, Du lin2, Zhang Chenxi2, Zhang Shaodan1, Wang Hailin2   

  1. 1 The Eye Hospital, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China; 2 Department of Ophthalmology, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Shenyang, Key Laboratory of Eye Diseases of Shenyang, Shenyang 110031, China
  • Received:2020-10-30 Online:2021-11-25 Published:2021-12-10
  • Contact: Niu Tongtong, Email: tongtongniu968@hotmail.com E-mail:tongtongniu968@hotmail.com
  • Supported by:
    Shenyang Key Lab Construction Program (F15-160-1-00); Key Scientific and Technological Research and Development Projects of Shenyang (17-230-9-03); Wenzhou Basic Medical and Health Technology Project (Y2020364)

Abstract: Objective To explore the level changes of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in aqueous humor and serum of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Design Prospective comparative case seiries. Participants 36 PDR patients and 26 cataract patients without diabetes (control group) were enrolled. Methods The peripheral blood and undiluted aqueous humor (operatively) of all patients were collected. The cytokine concentrations of aqueous humor and serum were analyzed by immune multiplex bead-based assay. The general information and cytokine concentration were compared between the two groups. The correlation analyses were also performed for the cytokines concentration of aqueous humor and serum. Main Outcome Measures The concentrations of IL-1β, IL-1Ra, VEGF in aqueous humor and serum. Results Both the concentration of IL-1β (6.7±4.3 pg/ml) and IL-1Ra (657.9±445.6 pg/ml) of aqueous humor in PDR group were higher than that in control group (3.3±3.2 pg/ml and 300.8±368.0 pg/ml, both P=0.001). The concentration of IL-1β (7.6±4.6 pg/ml) and IL-1Ra (437.8±270.2 pg/ml) of serum in PDR group were also higher than that in control group (4.9±3.7 pg/ml and 279.2±226.7 pg/ml, both P=0.02). There was no significant difference for the concentration of VEGF of aqueous humor and serum between the two groups. The concentration of IL-1β of aqueous humor or serum was highly and positively correlated with the concentration of IL-1Ra of the same sample. The concentration of IL-1β (r=0.50, P=0.003) and IL-1Ra (r=0.66, P<0.001) of aqueous humor was positively correlated with that of serum, respectively, in PDR group. However, there was no correlation for concentration of VEGF of aqueous humor and serum (r=-0.06, P=0.72). Conclusion The anti-inflammation cytokine compensatively increases as the inflammation cytokine increases in both aqueous humor and serum in patients with PDR. The regulation of this inflammation response may represent a novel modality in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. The levels of inflammation and anti-inflammation cytokines may be used as biomarkers for diabetic retinopathy. (Ophthalmol CHN, 2021, 30: 449-452)

Key words: proliferative diabetic retinopathy, VEGF, IL-1β, IL-1Ra