Cytokine and Chemokine Expression Profiles in HIV-1 Infected Patients with Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia from Botswana

Kenneth O Simbiri,Giacomina Massaro-Giordano,Richard D Dzeng,Erle S Robertson,Hem C Jha

doi:10.5539/cco.v1n2p10

Abstract

Purpose: Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) rate has increased in incidence with the HIV pandemic in Africa. Multiple factors including cellular and environmental can affect the pathogenesis of OSSN in HIV-infected patients. We will investigate anti-inflammatory cytokines, proinflammatory cytokines, and growth factor expression in sera and tissue samples of OSSN and pterygia for the potential link to the development of OSSN. Results: Antibody analysis showed significant changes in levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in sera. Quantitative RT-PCR of tissues showed expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines associated with HIV infection and carcinogenesis. Conclusion: Our findings showed that dysregulation in expression of cytokines and growth factors in patients with multiple infections may contribute to pathogenesis of OSSN and pterygia. The data reinforces the significance of in depth analysis of immune function in HIV-1 OSSN patients with multiple viral infections that has potential for therapy and vaccine development.

Highlights

Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is a conjunctival or corneal neoplastic growth that covers dysplasia, to conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (Kiire & Dhillon, 2006)
Our findings showed that dysregulation in expression of cytokines and growth factors in patients with multiple infections may contribute to pathogenesis of OSSN and pterygia
3.1 Expression of Inflammatory Cytokines, Chemokines and Growth Factors were Modulated in OSSN and Potential dysregulation of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors and their contribution to the pathogenesis of OSSN and pterygia was analyzed using serum samples obtained from 2 OSSN (#19 and #20), and 2 pterygia (#15 and #16) patients as well as a negative control subject from the same area for analysis

Summary

Introduction

Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is a conjunctival or corneal neoplastic growth that covers dysplasia, to conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (Kiire & Dhillon, 2006). Literature indicates that preceding the HIV-1 pandemic, OSSN predominantly occurred in the elderly for whom it is the third most common oculoorbital tumor after melanoma and lymphoma (Maxwell et al, 2010; de Koning et al, 2008). Other risk factors linked to its pathogenesis have included ultraviolet light B rays (de Koning et al, 2008), mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene (Tornesello, Waddell, Duraturo, Biryahwaho, Downing, & Lucas, 2005), immunosuppression in organ transplant recipients (Vajdic et al, 2007), cigarette smoking, and in some settings, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection In sub-Saharan Africa, OSSN is increasing in prevalence, aggressiveness, and affects predominantly young people who are HIV-1 positive with a greater percentage of them being women (Waddell et al, 2006; Tornesello et al, 2005)

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Discussion

Conclusion