Intraocular Cytokines and Their Correlations with Clinical Parameters in Patients with Myopic Choroidal Neovascularization

Abstract

Purpose: To study cytokine levels in aqueous humor of patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV), their correlations with each other and ocular parameters.

Methods: Ophthalmological examination and immunological study of aqueous humor with cytokine levels measurement (Bio-Plex™ Human Cytokine 27-Plex panel; Bio-Rad Laboratories, USA) were performed in 19 patients (19 eyes) with ranibizumab-treated mCNV and compared to 15 patients (15 eyes) with myopia without CNV.

Results: The levels of 10 cytokines were significantly different in patients with mCNV compared to the controls: the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level was 2 times lower (191.15 ± 142.30 and 320.06 ± 170.05 pg/mL, respectively), and the levels of PDGF, IL-2, IL-5, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17А, TNF-α, IL-8, and RANTES were elevated. Strong correlations between morphological and functional parameters and cytokines, including VEGF, were found. The VEGF level inversely correlated with the myopia degree and the cytokines IL-13, INF-γ, and RANTES.

Conclusion: The decrease in VEGF levels accompanied by imbalance of other cytokines may suggest additional mCNV development pathways.