Cytokine concentration in aqueous humor of eyes with diabetic macular edema

Abstract

AbstractPurpose To measure cytokine concentrations in aqueous humor of eyes with diffuse diabetic macular edema.Methods The study included a study group of 23 patients with diffuse diabetic macular edema and a control group of 22 patients undergoing cataract surgery were compared. Cytokine concentrations were measured in aqueous humor samples using a Luminex xMAP suspension array technology.Results In the study group as compared to the control group, significantly higher concentrations were measured for epidermal growth factor (EGF)(P<0.001), human growth factor (HGF)(P<0.001), intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM1)(P<0.001), interleukin 1a2 (IL1a2)(P=0.04), interleukin 6 (IL6)(P=0.001), interleukin 8 (IL 8)(P<0.001), interferon‐gamma induced protein (IP10)(P=0.004), monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1)(P<0.001), monokine induced by interferon gamma (MIG)(P<0.001), matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1)(P=0.02), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9)(P<0.001), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI1)(P<0.001), placenta growth factor (PlGF) (P<0.001), tissue growth factor beta (TGF‐ß) (P=0.003), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)(P<0.001), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)(P<0.001). Retinal macula thickness was significantly associated with the concentrations of the EGF, ICAM1, IL3, IL6, IL8, MCP‐1, MIG, MMP9, TGF‐ß, PlGF, VCAM, and VEGF. In multivariate analysis, macular thickness remained to be significantly associated with the concentration of ICAM1 (P=0.006;r=0.40).Conclusion Numerous cytokines are associated with the presence and the amount of diabetic macular edema. Among these cytokines, ICAM1 was the most significantly associated with the disease parameters.