Tear inflammatory cytokines as potential biomarkers for myopic macular degeneration

Dongling Guo; Jiao Qi; Yu Du; Chen Zhao; Shuyu Liu; Yi Lu; Xiangjia Zhu

doi:10.1016/j.exer.2023.109648

Tear inflammatory cytokines as potential biomarkers for myopic macular degeneration

Exp Eye Res. 2023 Oct:235:109648. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109648. Epub 2023 Sep 11.

Authors

Dongling Guo¹, Jiao Qi¹, Yu Du¹, Chen Zhao², Shuyu Liu¹, Yi Lu¹, Xiangjia Zhu³

Affiliations

¹ Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, China.
² Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
³ Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: zhuxiangjia1982@126.com.

PMID: 37704045
DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109648

Abstract

Previous studies have reported that inflammatory cytokine levels increase in the intraocular fluids (aqueous humor and vitreous) of highly myopic eyes, However, there has been currently no study revealing the levels of inflammatory cytokines in tear. Therefore, this study aimed to determine tear cytokine levels of highly myopic eyes, and their relationships with myopic macular degeneration (MMD). This case-control study screened inflammatory cytokines of tear samples from 132 highly myopic and 105 emmetropic eyes using a multiplex cytokine antibody array, and cytokines showing significant intergroup differences were further validated using ProQuantum immunoassays in tear samples from another 60 highly myopic and 60 emmetropic eyes. Ultra-widefield fundus photographs of eyes were classified according to the meta-analyses of the Pathologic Myopia Classification. Associations between tear cytokine levels and MMD category were investigated. As a result, tear levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-13 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 were screened significantly higher in highly myopic eyes than in emmetropic controls (IL-6: 11.70 ± 16.81 versus 8.22 ± 10.76 pg/mL; MCP-1: 63.60 ± 54.40 versus 33.87 ± 43.82 pg/mL; both P < 0.05). Validation assays further demonstrated the elevated concentrations of IL-6 and MCP-1 (IL-6: 13.97 ± 8.41 versus 8.06 ± 7.94 pg/mL, P < 0.001; MCP-1: 32.69 ± 8.41 versus 18.07 ± 8.41 pg/mL, P = 0.003). Tear levels of IL-6 and MCP-1 differed significantly among MMD categories (both P < 0.05). The area under receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.783 and 0.682 respectively (both P < 0.05), when using tear IL-6 and MCP-1 levels to predict the presence of MMD (category ≥2). The ordered logistic regression model also indicated that longer axial length, and higher IL-6 and MCP-1 tear levels were independent predictors of higher MMD category. In our study, highly myopic eyes presented significantly higher levels of tear IL-6 and MCP-1, which may also serve as potential biomarkers for MMD.

Keywords: Biomarker; Cytokine; High myopia; Myopic macular degeneration; Tear.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biomarkers
Case-Control Studies
Cytokines
Fundus Oculi
Humans
Interleukin-6
Macular Degeneration* / diagnosis
Myopia, Degenerative* / diagnosis

Substances

Cytokines
Interleukin-6
Biomarkers