Changes of neuroprotective factors and immune-related factors in aqueous humor of patients with primary open angle glaucoma

Abstract

Objective To measure cytokine concentrations in aqueous humor of patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and cataract. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed under the informed consent of each subject from June to December in 2016 in Daping Hospital.A total of 24 cases of POAG patients served as the experimental group, while 22 cases of age related cataract patients served as control group.Concentrations of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble neural cell adhesion molecule (sNCAM), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) with Luminex 200 were detected between the two groups.Then the comparison and the correlation analysis were performed between the two groups. Results Concentrations of MCP-1, sVCAM-1 and sNCAM in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group, with significant differences between them (P=0.017, 0.007, 0.001). The concentration of bFGF-2 in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P=0.027). There was no significant difference in the expression levels of BDNF and sICAM-1 between the two groups (P>0.05). The expression levels of MCP-1, sICAM-1, sNCAM and sVCAM-1 were significantly associated with each other (all at P<0.05). Conclusions The expression levels of MCP-1, sVCAM-1 and sNCAM are elevated in POAG patients.POAG may be a neurodegenerative disease associated with neuroinflammation. Key words: Primary open angle glaucoma; Aqueous humor; Cytokine; Neurodegeneration