Vitreous cytokine expression profiles in patients with retinal detachment

To compare the expression profiles of various cytokines and chemokines in vitreous samples from patients with retinal detachment (RD) to those from controls and to analyze their association with various clinical features.

In this prospective study, undiluted vitreous fluid was obtained from 41 patients with primary RD and 33 controls with macular hole or vitreomacular traction. A multiplex bead immunoassay was performed to determine the expression of 27 inflammatory mediators.

Eleven mediators were significantly upregulated in the vitreous of RD patients compared with controls, including the following: cytokines IL-1ra, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IFN-γ; chemokines CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CXCL10 and CCL11 and growth factor G-CSF. Correlation analyses showed that levels of IL-1ra, CXCL10, CCL11 and G-CSF were positively correlated to the extent of detachment, while those of IL-1ra and CXCL10 were associated with the duration of detachment. There was also a positive association between the concentrations of CXCL10 and CCL11 and preoperative flare values. Additional analysis revealed that flare values and both CXCL10 and CCL11 levels were significantly higher in eyes with grade B or C proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).

Our results confirm that RD induces a marked inflammatory response with a complex cytokine network. We identified proteins specifically linked to several clinical features that might contribute to photoreceptor degeneration and PVR-related redetachment. These proteins may represent potential therapeutic targets for improving the anatomical and functional outcomes of RD surgery.