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Immunolocalization of IL-1beta and IL-6 in optic nerves of patients with AIDS
H G Saadati1, I A Khan, X H Lin
1University of Southern California School of Medicine Doheny Eye Institute Department of Ophthalmology, Los Angeles 90033, USA.
Purpose:
Immunohistochemical procedures were employed to test the hypothesis that cytokines such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are involved in AIDS-related optic neuropathy and to determine the primary cell types involved.
Methods:
Fixed sections of six human HIV-1 infected optic nerves were immunostained for the presence of IL-1beta and IL-6, using horseradish peroxidase and diaminobenzidine as markers.
Results:
IL-1beta and IL-6 were found in astrocytes, macrophages, microglia, and endothelial cells. The great majority of astrocytes demonstrated strong immunoreactivity.
Conclusion:
Our findings support the premise that IL-1beta and IL-6 are significant pro-inflammatory mediators in AIDS-related optic neuropathy. This finding supports the theory that HIV infection stimulates the release of IL-1beta and IL-6 in astrocytes, macrophages, and endothelial cells in the optic nerve which ultimately leads to demyelination, astrogliosis, and neuronal destruction.