Elevated serum IL-23 correlates with intraocular inflammation after cataract surgery in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease are known to have severe inflammation after cataract surgery. This study was designed to investigate the role of IL-17-producing T helper (Th17) cell-related pro-inflammatory cytokines on postoperative inflammation in VKH patients.

METHODS:

Serum from nine VKH patients and nine controls with age-related or congenital cataract was collected before and 1, 7, 30 and 90 days after surgery, and aqueous humor (AqH) at the commencement of surgery. Protein levels of IL-23, IL-27, IL-17 and IFN-gamma in serum and AqH were measured by ELISA. A laser flare-cell photometer was used to quantify intraocular inflammation.

RESULTS:

Serum IL-23 levels were significantly increased in VKH compared with control patients and peaked at 1 day postoperative, decreased rapidly in the first week, then attenuated gradually. In VKH patients, serum levels of IFN-gamma were elevated in the first week after surgery and IL-27 was upregulated in the first month. Importantly, serum IL-23 levels were strongly correlated with aqueous flare value (r=0.689; p=0.007) and cell counts (r=0.671; p=0.01) in VKH compared with control patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

The data indicate that serum IL-23 levels are significantly elevated in VKH compared with control patients and are strongly associated with postoperative intraocular inflammation.

• Authors: Shuhong Jiang, Xialin Liu, Lixia Luo, Bo Qu, Xiangkun Huang, Li Xu, Ying Lin, Shaobi Ye, Yizhi Liu
• Journal: The British journal of ophthalmology (Br J Ophthalmol) Vol. 94 Issue 8 Pg. 1078-82 (Aug 2010) ISSN: 1468-2079 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19910285 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Interleukin-23

Topics

• Adult
• Aqueous Humor (immunology)
• Cataract (etiology)
• Cytokines (blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Interleukin-23 (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Panuveitis (etiology, immunology)
• Phacoemulsification (adverse effects)
• Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome (complications, immunology)