Inflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression in sympathetic ophthalmia: a pilot study

Sympathetic ophthalmia is a bilateral uveitis that develops after penetrating injury to one eye. This study aimed to identify the inflammatory cellular sub-phenotypes and expression of pertinent inflammatory cytokines/chemokines in sympathetic ophthalmia (SO). Dalen-Fuchs nodules (DFN), granulomas, and non-granulomatous foci of inflammation were micro-dissected from 15 cases. RNA was extracted, and quantitative PCR was performed to measure IL-17, IL-18, IL-23, IFN-γ, CCL19, CXCL11, CCL17, and CCL22 transcripts. Immunohistochemical methods were used to characterize CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD68, and CD163 expression. Non-granulomatous lymphocytes were predominantly CD3-positive and expressed more IFN-γ than cells within granulomas, consistent with Th1 cells. In contrast, granulomas and DFN contained mainly CD68+, CD163+/- and expressed more IL-17, IL-18, IL-23, CCL19, and CXCL11 than non-granulomatous cells. Our data indicate for the first time that M1 macrophages are the predominant inflammatory cells within granulomas and DFN of SO. We further observed high levels of IL-17 within granulomas and the presence of Th1 and M1 cells.