[The effect of interleukin-1 on ocular inflammation in rabbit ocular tissue]

IL-1 (Interleukin-1) has attracted attention not only as a mediator of the immunological response but as a substance involved in acute and chronic inflammatory responses. The author induced endophthalmitis by intravitreous injection of IL-1 into rabbit eyes. The inflammation model was characterized by the indicators of aqueous humor protein and PGE2 levels, and IL-1 and PAF were investigated as possible mediators of inflammation in IL-1 induced endophthalmitis. A prostaglandin (PG) synthetase inhibitor suppressed both the protein level and PGE2 level, while a PAF antagonist acted to inhibit the increase in the protein level in aqueous humor but did not inhibit the rise in PGE2. Combined administration of the PAF antagonist and the PG synthetase inhibitor further reduced both the protein and PGE2 levels. These findings suggest that PAF may be a mediator of endophthalmitis due to IL-1, and that IL-1 induced endophthalmitis is also modified by other factors in addition to PAF.