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Age-related pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic changes in human aqueous humor
Yan Zheng1,2, Yu-Qing Rao1, Jia-Kai Li1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
Insights
Human aqueous humor shows increased pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic cytokines with age, potentially indicating a parainflammation state in the eye. This study tracked age-related changes in these key proteins.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
- Aging Research
Background:
- The ocular anterior chamber's immunological environment is crucial for eye health.
- Understanding age-related changes in ocular cytokines is vital for identifying disease mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related alterations in cytokine and chemokine profiles within human aqueous humor.
- To determine if these changes correlate with aging from childhood to adulthood.
Main Methods:
- Aqueous humor samples were collected from pediatric (3-6.5 years) and adult (22-106 years) cohorts.
- Levels of 22 cytokines, chemokines, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were quantified.
- Statistical analyses were performed to identify age-dependent changes and correlations.
Main Results:
- Significant increases in interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukins (IL-13, IL-6, IL-12(p70), IL-10), CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10, IFN-α2, and VEGF were observed from childhood to adulthood (P<0.05).
- Within the adult group, IFN-γ, IL-13, IL-12(p70), IL-10, CCL3, CXCL9, and VEGF showed moderate age-related increases (r>0.5).
- Low concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-1β, and TNF-α were noted in both age groups.
Conclusions:
- The anterior chamber's immunological milieu becomes more pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic with age.
- These age-associated cytokine shifts may signify a state of ocular parainflammation.
- Findings highlight the dynamic immunological changes in the human eye throughout the lifespan.
Aim:
To reveal age-related aqueous cytokine changes in human aqueous humor.
Methods:
Aqueous humor was collected from 12 young children (3-6.5 years old) and 71 healthy adults (22-106 years old) with cataract but without other systemic or ocular disorders. Levels of 22 cytokines, chemokines and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured and analyzed.
Results:
The following proteins showed significant increase from childhood to adult: interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-13, IL-6, IL-12(p70), IL-10, CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10, IFN-α2 and VEGF (all P<0.05). IFN-γ, IL-13, IL-12(p70), IL-10, CCL3, CXCL9 and VEGF also showed moderate strength age-related increase in the adult group (r>0.5). The strength of correlation between aging and CCL4 were fair (r=0.398). The concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-1β and TNF-α were low in both groups.
Conclusion:
From childhood to adult, the immunological milieu of the anterior chamber become more pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic. Such changes may represent the parainflammation state of the human eye.
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