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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Bead Based Multiplex Assay for Analysis of Tear Cytokine Profiles

Bead Based Multiplex Assay for Analysis of Tear Cytokine Profiles

Published on: October 13, 2017

Subclinical keratoconus and inflammatory molecules from tears.

I Lema¹, T Sobrino, J A Durán

¹Instituto Galego de Oftalmoloxía, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. mariaisabel.lema@usc.es

The British Journal of Ophthalmology

|March 24, 2009

Summary

Tear analysis revealed elevated levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in both keratoconus (KC) and subclinical KC eyes. However, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) was significantly increased only in advanced KC eyes, suggesting chronic inflammation in KC pathogenesis.

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Area of Science:

Ophthalmology
Biochemistry
Immunology

Background:

Corneal thinning disorders like keratoconus (KC) are linked to tissue degradation driven by inflammatory mediators.
Understanding these inflammatory processes is crucial for diagnosing and managing KC progression.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify tear levels of key proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9).
To compare these levels between affected eyes (KC and subclinical KC) and healthy control eyes in unilateral KC patients.

Main Methods:

A prospective, cross-sectional study involved 30 patients with asymmetrical KC (30 KC eyes, 30 subclinical KC eyes) and 20 normal controls.
Tear samples (10 microliters) were collected from each participant's eye.

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Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure concentrations of IL-6, TNF-alpha, and MMP-9.

Main Results:

IL-6 levels were significantly higher in both KC and subclinical KC eyes compared to controls, with no significant difference between KC and subclinical KC.
TNF-alpha levels were significantly elevated in both KC and subclinical KC eyes relative to controls, and also higher in KC eyes than subclinical KC eyes.
MMP-9 levels were significantly increased in KC eyes compared to subclinical KC eyes and controls, while levels in subclinical KC and control eyes were similar.

Conclusions:

Overexpression of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in tears is evident in both subclinical and established KC.
Elevated MMP-9 is specific to advanced KC, suggesting a role in active tissue degradation.
These findings support the involvement of chronic inflammatory events in the pathogenesis of keratoconus.