Circulating S100A8/A9 Levels Reflect Intraocular Inflammation in Uveitis Patients

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Immunology
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Uveitis is an inflammatory eye condition with significant visual morbidity.
• Identifying reliable biomarkers for uveitis activity is crucial for effective management.
• S100A8/A9, a calcium-binding protein complex, is implicated in inflammatory processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the association between circulating S100A8/A9 levels and uveitis activity.
• To evaluate S100A8/A9 as a potential biomarker for intraocular inflammation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 549 plasma samples from uveitis patients and non-uveitic controls.
• Quantification of circulating S100A8/A9 levels using plasma samples.
• Correlation of S100A8/A9 levels with uveitis activity, treatment response, and inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR).

Main Results:

• Elevated S100A8/A9 plasma levels were observed in uveitis patients compared to controls (P < 0.001).
• Active acute anterior uveitis (AAU) showed significantly higher S100A8/A9 levels, which decreased with corticosteroid treatment (P < 0.001).
• Higher S100A8/A9 levels were noted in AAU patients with ankylosing spondylitis (P = 0.02) and elevated CRP/ESR (P = 0.004, P = 0.049).

Conclusions:

• Circulating S100A8/A9 levels are significantly associated with uveitis activity and intraocular inflammation.
• S100A8/A9 may serve as a valuable biomarker for monitoring uveitis severity and treatment response.
• Further research can explore S100A8/A9's role in the pathogenesis and management of uveitis.