Cytokine Levels in the Aqueous Humor Are Associated With Corneal Thickness in Eyes With Bullous Keratopathy

Abstract

We sought to investigate the association between the severity of bullous keratopathy and proinflammatory cytokine levels in the aqueous humor (AqH). Cross-sectional study. This study included a total of 95 eyes: 62 with bullous keratopathy and 33 that underwent cataract surgery. Central corneal thickness (CCT) and central corneal volume within 4 and 6mm (CCV4mm and CCV6mm, respectively) were determined using anterior segment optical coherence tomography. A total of 95 AqH samples were collected at the beginning of surgery. The levels of cytokines (interleukins [ILs]-1α, -1β, -4, -6, -8, -10, -12p70, -13, -17A, interferon [IFN]-α, IFN-γ, monocyte chemotactic protein [MCP]-1, E-selectin, P-selectin, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [sICAM-1]) in the AqH were measured using multiplex beads immunoassay. We evaluated the correlation among AqH cytokine levels, CCT, CCV4mm, and CCV6mm in eyes with bullous keratopathy. The levels of protein, ILs-4, -6, -8, -10, -12p70, and -17A, MCP-1, IFN-γ, E-selectin, P-selectin, and sICAM-1 were significantly higher in eyes with bullous keratopathy compared with those of the normal control subjects (all P< .0025). CCT was significantly correlated with the levels of IL-13 (r= 0.551, P=.0009) and sICAM-1 (r= 0.448, P= .0005). CCV4mm was significantly correlated with the levels of IL-13 (r= 0.514, P=.0022) and sICAM-1 (r= 0.404, P= .0019). CCV6mm was significantly correlated with the level of sICAM-1 (r= 0.459, P= .0003). The severity of corneal edema in eyes with bullous keratopathy was associated with the levels of specific cytokines in the AqH.