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[Cytokine mRNA expression in vernal keratoconjunctivitis]
Junichi Mori1, Michiharu Ishizaki, Tadashi Senoo
1Department of Ophthalmology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu-machi, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
Background:
Cytokines play an important role in chronic allergic eye disease.
Objectives:
We examined how many kinds of cytokines are in giant papillae of vernal keratoconjunctivitis(VKC).
Methods:
We resected giant papillae from 6 patients with VKC, and studied mRNA expression of cytokines in them with the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The cytokines were interleukin(IL)-1 beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 RA), IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, interferon (INF) gamma, tumor necrosis factor(TNF) alpha, TNF beta, transforming growth factor(TGF) beta 1, and TGF beta 2.
Results:
In 5 cases, expression of IL-1 beta was positive. Expression of IL-1 RA, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, TGF beta 1, and TGF beta 2 was positive in 6 cases. TNF alpha was positive in 4 cases. IL-4 and INF gamma were positive in 3 cases. IL-2 and TNF beta were negative in all patients.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that the Th2 cytokines play more important roles than the Th1 cytokines in VKC inflammation.