Non-infective Inflammation Research Articles

Autoimmune markers in screening for orbital inflammatory disease

PurposeImmunogenic causes of inflammation may be difficult to differentiate in the work-up of orbital inflammatory disease. The study aims to investigate the utility of autoimmune markers in the screening for orbital inflammation. Markers studied included angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA), extractable nuclear antigen (ENA), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (Anti-CCP) and anti-double stranded DNA antibody (Anti-dsDNA antibody).MethodsA retrospective single-centre study of consecutive patients with non-infective orbital inflammation screened for autoimmune markers at presentation. Serology was interpreted alongside clinical course and other investigations (e.g. radiographic features and histopathology). Tabulated data and Pearson’s Chi-square allowed analysis of trends between serology, diagnosis and the decision to biopsy.Results79 patients, between 1999 and 2021, were included (50 females, mean age was 50.4 ± 17.4 years). 28 (34.6%) patients had specific orbital inflammation and 53 (65.4%) patients had non-specific orbital inflammation (NSOI). Of the 12 patients with positive serology and a specific diagnosis, only 5 (41.7%) patients had concordant serological results. There was no association between serology results and the patient undergoing biopsy (P = 0.651). Serology was unable to exclude nor differentiate NSOI from other specific conditions and ANA had limited discriminatory value between specific conditions and NSOI.ConclusionSerological testing alone may not provide a clear direction for further investigation of orbital inflammation and a biopsy may occur independently of the serological results. The value of autoimmune markers may lie in subsequent follow-up as patients may develop suggestive symptoms after an indeterminate positive result or initially seronegative disease.

Colchicine as rescue treatment in two pediatric patients with chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO).

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a rare idiopathic autoinflammatory bone disease characterised by noninfective inflammation of bones. Diagnostic approach is challenging and requires exclusion of other causes such as malignancies or infections. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids are usually applied as first-line therapy in CRMO patients; however, some cases require more intensive therapy with second-line agents to control disease activity. We hereby describe the use of colchicine as a nonconventional second-line disease-modifying antirheumatic drug in two pediatric patients with CRMO refractory to NSAIDs and corticosteroids. Our data indicate that colchicine might prove an important area for future research as a potential therapeutic option with easy administration, low cost, and a good safety profile in CRMO patients refractory to first-line therapy.

Does Low Grade Systemic Inflammation Have a Role in Chronic Pain?

One of the major clinical manifestations of peripheral neuropathy, either resulting from trauma or diseases, is chronic pain. While it significantly impacts patients’ quality of life, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive, and treatment is not satisfactory. Systemic chronic inflammation (SCI) that we are referring to in this perspective is a state of low-grade, persistent, non-infective inflammation, being found in many physiological and pathological conditions. Distinct from acute inflammation, which is a protective process fighting against intruders, SCI might have harmful effects. It has been associated with many chronic non-communicable diseases. We hypothesize that SCI could be a predisposing and/or precipitating factor in the development of chronic pain, as well as associated comorbidities. We reviewed evidence from human clinical studies indicating the coexistence of SCI with various types of chronic pain. We also collated existing data about the sources of SCI and who could have it, showing that those individuals or patients having SCI usually have higher prevalence of chronic pain and psychological comorbidities. We thus elaborate on the need for further research in the connection between SCI and chronic pain. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain these complex interactions.

Pulmonary adverse events due to immune checkpoint inhibitors: A literature review.

Cancer immunotherapy aims to stimulate theimmune system to fight against tumors, utilizing the presentation of molecules on the surface of the malignant cells that can be recognized by the antibodies of the immune system. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, a type of cancer immunotherapy, are broadly used in different types of cancer, improving patients' survival and quality of life. However, treatment with these agents causes immune-related toxicities affecting many organs. The most frequent pulmonary adverse event is pneumonitis representing a non-infective inflammation localized to the interstitium and alveoli. Other lung toxicities include airway disease, pulmonary vasculitis, sarcoid-like reactions, infections, pleural effusions, pulmonary nodules, diaphragm myositis and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. This review aims to summarize these pulmonary adverse events, underlining the significance of an optimal expeditious diagnosis and management.

Risk assessment and prevention of venous thromboembolism among hospitalized patients: Results of the regional multicenter study

Introduction. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major public health issue that is frequently underestimated. The primary objective of this multicenter study was to identify patients at risk for VTE, and to define the rate of patients receiving appropriate prophylaxis in the regions of Kazakhstan.Materials and methods. Standardized case report forms were filled by trained medical doctors on one predefined day in selected hospitals. Data were analyzed by independent biostatistician. Risk of VTE was categorized according to Caprini score which was recommended by 2004 American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) guidelines.Results. 432 patients from 4 regions of Kazakhstan; 169 (39.10%) medical patients and 263 (60.9%) surgical patients were eligible for the study. Patients were at low (10%), moderate (19.2%), high (33.6%) and very high risk (37.3%) for VTE. The main risk factors (RF) of VTE among hospitalized patients were heart failure (HF), obesity, prolonged bed rest, and the presence of acute non-infective inflammation. From total number of hospitalized patients with RF with indications to VTE prophylaxis, 58.1% of patients received pharmacological prophylaxis and only 24.6% of them received VTE prophylaxis according ACCP. On the other hand, 23.5% patients with the risk of VTE but who were not eligible for it received pharmacological prophylaxis.Conclusion. These results indicate the existence of inconsistency between eligibility for VTE prophylaxis on one hand and its application in practice (p < 0.001). Risk factors for VTE and eligibility for VTE prophylaxis are common, but VTE prophylaxis and guidelines application are low.

Infection imaging using [18F]FDG-labelled white blood cell positron emission tomography-computed tomography.

Localizing the sites of infection in the body is possible in nuclear medicine using a variety of radiopharmaceuticals that target different components of the infective and inflammatory cascade. Gamma(γ)-emitting agents such as [67Ga]gallium citrate were among the first tracers used, followed by development of positron-emitting tracers like 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG). Though these tracers are quite sensitive, they have limited specificity for infection due to their concentration in sites of non-infective inflammation. White blood cells (WBC) labelled with γ or positron emitters have higher accuracy for differentiating the infective processes from the non-infective conditions that may show positivity with tracers such as 18F-FDG. We present a pictorial review of potential clinical applications of PET/CT using 18F-FDG labelled WBC.

Interventions for preventing mastitis after childbirth.

Interventions for preventing mastitis after childbirth.

Stat2 loss disrupts damage signalling and is protective in acute pancreatitis.

The severity of sterile inflammation, as seen in acute pancreatitis, is determined by damage-sensing receptors, signalling cascades and cytokine production. Stat2 is a type I interferon signalling mediator that also has interferon-independent roles in murine lipopolysaccharide-induced NF-κB-mediated sepsis. However, its role in sterile inflammation is unknown. We hypothesised that Stat2 determines the severity of non-infective inflammation in the pancreas. Wild type (WT) and Stat2-/- mice were injected i.p. with caerulein or l-arginine. Specific cytokine-blocking antibodies were used in some experiments. Pancreata and blood were harvested 1 and 24 h after the final dose of caerulein and up to 96 h post l-arginine. Whole-tissue phosphoproteomic changes were assessed using label-free mass spectrometry. Tissue-specific Stat2 effects were studied in WT/Stat2-/- bone marrow chimera and using Cre-lox recombination to delete Stat2 in pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1)-expressing cells. Stat2-/- mice were protected from caerulein- and l-arginine-induced pancreatitis. Protection was independent of type I interferon signalling. Stat2-/- mice had lower cytokine levels, including TNF-α and IL-10, and reduced NF-κB nuclear localisation in pancreatic tissue compared with WT. Inhibition of TNF-α improved (inhibition of IL-10 worsened) caerulein-induced pancreatitis in WT but not Stat2-/- mice. Phosphoproteomics showed downregulation of MAPK mediators but accumulation of Ser412-phosphorylated Tak1. Stat2 deletion in Pdx1-expressing acinar cells (Stat2flox/Pdx1-cre ) reduced pancreatic TNF-α expression, but not histological injury or serum amylase. WT/Stat2-/- bone marrow chimera mice were protected from pancreatitis irrespective of host or recipient genotype. Stat2 loss results in disrupted signalling in pancreatitis, upstream of NF-κB in non-acinar and/or bone marrow-derived cells. © 2020 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Toll-like receptor linked cytokine profiles in cerebrospinal fluid discriminate neurological infection from sterile inflammation.

Rapid determination of an infective aetiology causing neurological inflammation in the cerebrospinal fluid can be challenging in clinical practice. Post-surgical nosocomial infection is difficult to diagnose accurately, as it occurs on a background of altered cerebrospinal fluid composition due to the underlying pathologies and surgical procedures involved. There is additional diagnostic difficulty after external ventricular drain or ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery, as infection is often caused by pathogens growing as biofilms, which may fail to elicit a significant inflammatory response and are challenging to identify by microbiological culture. Despite much research effort, a single sensitive and specific cerebrospinal fluid biomarker has yet to be defined which reliably distinguishes infective from non-infective inflammation. As a result, many patients with suspected infection are treated empirically with broad-spectrum antibiotics in the absence of definitive diagnostic criteria. To begin to address these issues, we examined cerebrospinal fluid taken at the point of clinical equipoise to diagnose cerebrospinal fluid infection in 14 consecutive neurosurgical patients showing signs of inflammatory complications. Using the guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, six cases were subsequently characterized as infected and eight as sterile inflammation. Twenty-four contemporaneous patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension or normal pressure hydrocephalus were included as non-inflamed controls. We measured 182 immune and neurological biomarkers in each sample and used pathway analysis to elucidate the biological underpinnings of any biomarker changes. Increased levels of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 and interleukin-6-related mediators such as oncostatin M were excellent indicators of inflammation. However, interleukin-6 levels alone could not distinguish between bacterially infected and uninfected patients. Within the patient cohort with neurological inflammation, a pattern of raised interleukin-17, interleukin-12p40/p70 and interleukin-23 levels delineated nosocomial bacteriological infection from background neuroinflammation. Pathway analysis showed that the observed immune signatures could be explained through a common generic inflammatory response marked by interleukin-6 in both nosocomial and non-infectious inflammation, overlaid with a toll-like receptor-associated and bacterial peptidoglycan-triggered interleukin-17 pathway response that occurred exclusively during infection. This is the first demonstration of a pathway dependent cerebrospinal fluid biomarker differentiation distinguishing nosocomial infection from background neuroinflammation. It is especially relevant to the commonly encountered pathologies in clinical practice, such as subarachnoid haemorrhage and post-cranial neurosurgery. While requiring confirmation in a larger cohort, the current data indicate the potential utility of cerebrospinal fluid biomarker strategies to identify differential initiation of a common downstream interleukin-6 pathway to diagnose nosocomial infection in this challenging clinical cohort.

Rising Postoperative C-Reactive Protein in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Sepsis or Inflammation?

This study aims to determine the incidence of sepsis in neonates operated for congenital diaphragmatic hernia and ascertain if the level or pattern of C-reactive protein (CRP) could be used to differentiate neonates with sepsis from noninfective inflammation. This study suggests that CRP patterns within the first 48-hours after surgical intervention for congenital diaphragmatic hernia could be used to differentiate neonates with noninfective inflammation from sepsis. A larger, multicentric study is needed to differentiate sepsis from inflammation on the basis of CRP rise and thereby help in avoiding unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Etiological pattern, clinical presentation, and management challenges of proptosis in a tertiary hospital in South West Nigeria

Background: The etiology of proptosis is diverse ranging from orbital problem to infiltrative disease and spread from contiguous sites including nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses, and sometimes distant structures. It can also be part of systemic illness affecting multiple tissues and organs. Aim: This study aims to determine the demographic pattern and etiology of proptosis in a tertiary health facility in South Western Nigeria and to discuss the management challenges. Methods: This is a clinic-based retrospective descriptive analysis of all patients that presented with proptosis at the Eye Clinic of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital Sagamu, Ogun state, Nigeria, over a 13-year period from 2000 to 2012. The hospital records of patients was used which was analyzed using Statistical package for Social sciences version 15. Results: A total of 175 cases of proptosis out of 15,266 new cases gave a hospital prevalence of 1.2%. The average age of the 138 patients analyzed was 37.8 years with a male to female ratio of 1:1. Children constituted 27.5%. Eighty-one (58.7%) patients presented within 1 month of onset of proptosis. Twenty-three (16.7%) had bilateral proptosis. Half of the studied population was secondary to orbital inflammation. The common causes of proptosis were infective 38.4%, mass/tumor 18.8%, noninfective inflammation 13%, and sinonasal diseases 10.9%. Eight (5.8%) were mucocele of paranasal sinuses. Thyroid-related eye disease and proptosis of vascular etiology were common in females. Computerized tomographic scan of the orbit and/or sinus/cranium was done in 11.4% of the patients. Thirty-seven (26.8%) patients defaulted. Conclusion: Infective process is the most common cause of proptosis from orbital cellulitis. Majority were unilateral with no sex predilection. Proptosis due to thyroid eye disease and vascular abnormality were found mostly in females. The management challenges were poor record keeping and inadequate personnel. Despite the threat to life and vision posed by some etiology of proptosis, a large number of the patients were unable to fund investigation and treatment while others defaulted from the facility.

Value of Procalcitonin Arise Markedly after Use of ATG in Conditioning of HSCT without Value in Differentiating Bacterial and Non-Bacteria Inflammation

Background It is difficult how to differentiate bacterial infections from viral infections and to differentiate bacterial infections from other non-infective systemic inflammation. Especially in the patients with lack of neutrophil bacteria infection is usually life-threaten. The prognosis for those patients is high dependent on early diagnosis and treatment. We still feel confusing in spite of monitoring serum procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels with temperature.Aim To find out whether PCT and CRP are helpful to differentiate bacterial infection and non-bacterial inflammation after use of anti-human T-lymphocyte globulin (ATG) in conditioning of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).Method Total 60 patients were involved in current study, who underwent HSCT and received conditioning included Cyclophosphamide, Fludarabine, ivBusufan, Thiotepa and ATG (at total dose of 5mg/kg for thymoglobulin, and 15-30mg/kg for ATG-Fresenius, respectively, on day-3 to -1). Blood samples were obtained in the morning from day-3 to 0 for testing PCT and CRP associated by daily recording temperature. Patients were grouped into Group 1 (G1, with antibiotics, n=30), Group 2 (G2, without antibiotics, n=30), Group 3 (G3, bacteria culture positive, n=7) and Group 4 (G4, bacteria culture negative, n=47)Results The value of PCT was not significant difference when G1 vs. G2 (p=0.061), and G3 vs. G4 (p=0.891), but CRP value and temperature were of significant difference between G1 and G2 (p=0.001 and 0.000, respectively). When comparing G3 with G4, CRP was significant (p=0.021) but temperature was no (0.377). However, the deference of daily CRP value was proved not to be enough to do a differential diagnosis by ROC (AUROC=0.685, 0.665, 0.643 and 0.643 on day-3 to 0, respectively).Conclusion The current study shows the value of PCT is insignificant to differentiate bacterial infection and non-bacterial inflammation after use of ATG in conditioning of HSCT. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Ability of procalcitonin to discriminate infection from non-infective inflammation using two pleural disease settings.

Procalcitonin has been shown to be useful in separating infection from non-infective disorders. However, infection is often paralleled by tissue inflammation. Most studies supporting the use of procalcitonin were confounded by more significant inflammation in the infection group. Few studies have examined the usefulness of procalcitonin when adjusted for inflammation.Pleural inflammation underlies the development of most exudative effusions including pleural infection and malignancy. Pleurodesis, often used to treat effusions, involves provocation of intense aseptic pleural inflammation. We conducted a two-part proof-of-concept study to test the specificity of procalcitonin in differentiating infection using cohorts of patients with pleural effusions of infective and non-infective etiologies, as well as subjects undergoing pleurodesis.MethodsWe measured the blood procalcitonin level (i) in 248 patients with pleural infection or with non-infective pleural inflammation, matched for severity of systemic inflammation by C-reactive protein (CRP), age and gender; and (ii) in patients before and 24–48 hours after induction of non-infective pleural inflammation (from talc pleurodesis).Results1) Procalcitonin was significantly higher in patients with pleural infection compared with controls with non-infective effusions (n = 32 each group) that were case-matched for systemic inflammation as measured by CRP [median (25–75%IQR): 0.58 (0.35–1.50) vs 0.34 (0.31–0.42) µg/L respectively, p = 0.003]. 2) Talc pleurodesis provoked intense systemic inflammation, and raised serum CRP by 360% over baseline. However procalcitonin remained relatively unaffected (21% rise). 3) Procalcitonin and CRP levels did not correlate. In 214 patients with pleural infection, procalcitonin levels did not predict the survival or need for surgical intervention.ConclusionUsing a pleural model, this proof-of-principle study confirmed that procalcitonin is a biomarker specific for infection and is not affected by non-infective inflammation. Procalcitonin is superior to CRP in distinguishing infection from non-infective pleural diseases, even when controlled for the level of systemic inflammation.

A case report of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis presenting as uveitis

In any patient with a first attack of posterior uveitis, it is important to differentiate whether the underlying cause is infective or non-infective in nature. However, when patients with a history of non-infective posterior inflammation present with recurrent symptoms of a flare-up, there is naturally a much lower suspicion of an infective aetiology and immunosuppression is usually commenced for the ‘flare-up’. We present a case of infective posterior uveitis due to a rare pathogen occurring in a patient with a known history of sarcoid uveitis which was initially misdiagnosed and treated as a ‘flare-up’.

Recurrent meningitis due to epidermoid

Aseptic meningitis is characterized by noninfective serous inflammation of the meninges. It can occur in a recurrent fashion when associated with dermoid and epidermoid cysts due to rupture of cyst contents into subarachnoid space resulting in aseptic chemical meningitis. Bacterial meningitis in association with these tumors is commonly related to a coexisting dermal sinus tract and the most common organism is Staphylococcus aureus.

Vitrectomy does not Cure Bevacizumab Induced Uveitis

Non-infectious inflammation associated with intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections has been reported recently. Failure to recognize this sterile inflammation can result in unnecessary treatment for endophthalmitis. We describe a case of acute noninfective intraocular inflammation following the third intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion-associated cystoid macular edema in a 74-year-old man who responded temporarily to repeated intravitreal antibiotics and vitrectomy. Prolonged use of systemic steroid (oral prednisolone monotherapy) resulted in resolution of the uveitis. No organisms could be demonstrated even on repeated aqueous and vitreous taps. Bevacizumab-induced uveitis is a rare event and its pathogenesis remains unclear. With the increasing use of bevacizumab, it is important to be aware of its potential to be associated with intraocular inflammation and to differentiate it from infective endophthalmitis.

Osteitis pubis ameliorated after tooth extraction: a case report

Osteitis pubis is a non-infective inflammation of the symphysis pubis, which is known to be associated with trauma, athletic exertion, urological or gynecological surgery, or with rheumatic conditions such as seronegative spondyloarthropathies. In this report, we describe a case of osteitis pubis whose symptoms were completely ameliorated following tooth extraction attributable to periodontitis. A 57-year-old female patient developed osteitis pubis, presenting with pain in the groin area with an elevated Creactive protein (CRP; 4.4 mg/dl) and radiological erosive changes in symphysis pubis. Prednisolone (5 mg/day) and etodolac were prescribed, but the patient's symptoms improved only partially and remained persistent. One year from the patient's first visit, three teeth were extracted due to severe chronic periodontitis, which she had been suffering from for years. Soon after the above tooth extraction, her symptoms appeared completely resolved, and the patient's CRP was decreased to nearly normal levels in 4 weeks. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-typing analysis revealed a positive result for HLA-A11, A24, and B54. Because HLA-B54 cross-reacts with HLA-B27, the patient's osteitis pubis was considered to be a form of reactive arthritis associated with periodontitis.

Changes in the masticatory muscles, periodontal tissues, and the pharyngeal ring in Wistar rats in chronic psychophysical stress

Experimental studies performed on 120 male Wistar rats using morphometric and histological methods demonstrated changes in oral cavity tissues on exposure to chronic psychophysical stress (dosed swimming). The masticatory muscles showed foci of non-infective inflammation, dystrophic changes in muscle fibers, and contractures. The periodontal ligament showed impairments to the microcirculation with congestion of the venous bed, local bleeding into the tissue, changes in the directions of bundles of collagen fibers, and deformation of bundles. The tissues of the pharyngeal ring showed decreases in lymphocyte content, progressive loosening of connective tissue, and decreases in non-degranulated mast cell numbers, as compared with controls. The intensity of these changes depended on the level of physical loading and the individual adaptive capacity of the animals. These structural changes in the tissues may be the etiopathogenetic basis of the development of chronic inflammatory periodontal diseases.

Occult cholecystitis presenting as PUO demonstrated on Gallium

Gallium-67 scintigraphy is commonly performed to investigate Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO) due to its affinity for infection or inflammation. The dissemination of hybrid SPECT CT imaging allows improved identification and localisation of causes of PUO. A 74 year old male was referred for investigation of pyrexia of unknown origin. Gallium SPECT CT was performed and demonstrated increased Gallium uptake in the gallbladder wall with features of cholelithiasis and collection on the corresponding CT images. At operation the gallbladder revealed areas of chronic cholecystitis and xanthogranulomatous inflammation. Figure 1 Figure 1: A 74 year old male was referred for investigation of pyrexia of unknown origin. A Gallium scan was performed and a whole body planar and SPECT/CT were acquired up to 48 hours following the administration of 300 MBq of Ga-citrate. Gallium SPECT (Top Row) and SPECT/CT fused (Middle Row) images demonstrated increased Gallium uptake in the gallbladder wall (solid arrow). CT (Bottom Row)) images also revealed pericholecystic fat stranding (arrowhead) and a small collection at the interface between the gallbladder and the liver (solid arrow). Occult cholecystitis presenting as PUO demonstrated on Gallium 2 of 3 Figure 2 Figure 2: An ultrasound was performed for further evaluation. The US demonstrated a non-mobile calculus (solid arrow) in the gallbladder neck (Top image) and confirmed cholecystitis (Lower image) with a pericholecystic collection (solid arrow). The patient subsequently underwent laparotomy and cholecystectomy. A 39mm diameter gallstone and a haemorrhagic inflamed gallbladder were removed. Histologic examination revealed organising chronic cholecystitis and areas of xanthogranulomatous inflammation. There are number of causes of PUO including pyogenic infection (soft tissue abscess, pneumonitis, musculoskeletal), non-pyogenic infection (mycobacterial, viral, chronic bacterial, fungal/rickettsial), non-infective inflammation (sarcoidosis, inflammatory bowel disease, vasculitis, “collagen” disease, organ rejection), and neoplasia (haemoproliferative, renal cell carcinoma, melanoma). 1,2 There are a number of proposed mechanisms of 67 Ga uptake into pathologic sites including increased vascular permeability to 67 Ga-transferrin complex, radiotracer accumulation in expanded regional vascular and interstitial fluid spaces, and binding of the metal-protein complex to extravascular transferrin receptors. 3,4,5 Cholecystitis is a relatively common condition usually diagnosed clinically and confirmed by ancillary laboratory investigations and imaging with ultrasound and hepatobiliary scintigraphy. 6,7,8 The addition of Hybrid SPECT CT to 67 Ga scintigraphy improves the sensitivity and specificity of the modality in investigating PUO.

Role of interleukin 2 on apoptosis of lens epithelium cells in intraocular non-infective inflammation induced by iron

To observe the role of Interleukin 2 (IL-2) on the apoptosis of lens epithelium cells during the intraocular non-infective inflammation induced by iron. Rabbits were divided into 3 groups randomly: the experimental group (injection of iron powder into the lens), the experimental control group [injection of iron and soluble IL-2 receptors (SIL-2R)] and the control group. The inflammation reaction in the anterior chamber was observed under the slitlamp biomicroscope and the level of IL-2 in the aqueous humor was assayed 3, 5, 7 and 10 days after the injection. STAT1, STAT3 and TUNEL staining were carried out on the histologic slices of enucleated eyeballs. The inflammation reaction in the anterior chamber in the experimental control group was less severe than that of the experimental group. IL-2 concentration in the experimental control group was lower than that of the experimental group. The STAT3 staining was strongly positive and TUNEL staining was weakly positive in the eyes of the experiment group. The STAT3 staining was weakly positive and TUNEL staining was strongly positive in the experimental control group. Both staining were negative in the control group. The STAT1 staining was negative in all 3 groups. Apoptosis of lens epithelium cells appears early in the intraocular inflammation induced by iron. IL-2 activates the STAT3 pathway, protects the lens epithelium cells and reduce the damage caused by inflammation reactions.