Abstract
Aqueous humor (AH) samples from 14 patients with presumed tuberculous uveitis (PTU), and 30 control patients were assayed for the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin IL-4, IL-12, IL-15, IL-17, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10, and the chemokines GRO-alpha/CXCL1, IL-8/CXCL8, MIG/CXCL9, IP-10/CXCL10 and SDF-1/CXCL12 with the use of a multiplex assay. Among cytokines, IL-4 and IL-12 were not detected. IL-15, IL-17, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-10 levels in AH were significantly higher in patients than in controls (p < 0.001; p = 0.004; p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001, respectively). Among chemokines, SDF-1 levels did not differ significantly between patients and controls, whereas GRO-alpha, IL-8, MIG and IP-10 levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls (p = 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001, respectively). Mean GRO-alpha levels in AH of PTU patients were 6-fold higher than IL-8 levels and mean IP-10 levels were 15-fold higher than MIG levels. Clinical disease activity correlated significantly with the levels of IL-15, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IF-10. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant positive association between PTU and high levels of IFN-gamma, IL-8, MIG and IP-10. These data suggest that both T helper (Th) Th-1 and Th-17 cells are involved in PTU and that the cytokine profile is polarized toward a Th-1 response. GRO-alpha and IP-10 might be involved in neutrophil and activated T lymphocyte chemoattraction in PTU, respectively. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.