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Updated: Aug 19, 2026
Intravitreal Injection and Quantitation of Infection Parameters in a Mouse Model of Bacterial Endophthalmitis
Published on: February 6, 2021
The Diagnostic Value of Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1 in Post-Traumatic Bacterial Endophthalmitis
Qiuyang Tang1, Mengxuan He1, Shudan Zhang1
1Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China.
Purpose:
To determine whether soluble-triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) could serve as a reliable diagnostic biomarker of post-traumatic bacterial endophthalmitis (PTBE).
Methods:
Thirty-two patients (32 eyes) clinically diagnosed having PTBE were further divided into a culture-positive (CP) group and a culture-negative (CN) group. Sixty-two patients (62 eyes) without traumatic endophthalmic infection were also enrolled. Twenty-one eyes from 11 donors without globe ocular injuries were included as control group. Vitreous sTREM-1 levels were detected by ELISA. The expression and tissue distribution of TREM-1 were revealed by immunohistochemistry. The diagnostic value of sTREM-1 was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). The correlation between sTREM-1 concentration and final best-corrected visual acuity (FBCVA) and Peyman endophthalmitis score (PES) were also assessed.
Results:
The vitreous sTREM-1 level in the PTBE group was higher than that in noninfected group and control group (P < 0.05). No remarkable difference was found between the CP group and the CN group in vitreous sTREM-1 levels (P > 0.05). No remarkable difference was found between the noninfected group and the control group (P > 0.05). No remarkable difference in TREM-1 level was found before and after intravitreal antibiotics (P > 0.05). TREM-1 was selectively highly expressed on the surface of cell membrane of neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages infiltrated in vitreous and uveal of the PTBE group. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.79 (>0.75), with a medium diagnostic efficiency. The sensitivity and specificity of sTREM-1 to differentiate PTBE from the noninfected intraocular condition were 62.50% and 86.25% separately. A cutoff value >524.50 pg/mL for sTREM-1 was predicted to be PTBE. Vitreous sTREM-1 levels in PTBE group were positively correlated with PES (r = 0.428, P < 0.05). However, sTREM-1 levels and FBCVA did not significantly correlate with one another (P > 0.05).
Conclusions:
The sTREM-1 was a promising diagnostic biomarker of PTBE, especially CN-PTBE. Vitreous sTREM-1 levels were linked with intraocular inflammation levels and severity of PTBE.
Insights
Soluble-triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) shows promise as a biomarker for diagnosing post-traumatic bacterial endophthalmitis (PTBE), particularly culture-negative cases. Elevated sTREM-1 levels correlate with inflammation and PTBE severity.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Post-traumatic bacterial endophthalmitis (PTBE) poses a significant risk to vision.
- Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment.
- Current diagnostic methods may have limitations, especially in culture-negative scenarios.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diagnostic utility of soluble-triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) as a biomarker for PTBE.
- To assess the correlation between vitreous sTREM-1 levels and disease severity.
Main Methods:
- Vitreous fluid samples were analyzed for sTREM-1 levels using ELISA in patients with PTBE, noninfected intraocular conditions, and controls.
- Immunohistochemistry was used to determine TREM-1 expression in ocular tissues.
- Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis evaluated the diagnostic performance of sTREM-1.
- Correlation with visual acuity and clinical severity scores was assessed.
Main Results:
- Vitreous sTREM-1 levels were significantly higher in the PTBE group compared to controls and noninfected groups.
- sTREM-1 demonstrated moderate diagnostic efficiency (AUC = 0.79) for differentiating PTBE.
- Sensitivity was 62.50% and specificity was 86.25% for sTREM-1 at a cutoff of >524.50 pg/mL.
- TREM-1 was highly expressed on neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages in PTBE eyes.
- sTREM-1 levels positively correlated with the Peyman endophthalmitis score (PES) but not with visual acuity.
Conclusions:
- sTREM-1 is a promising biomarker for diagnosing PTBE, especially in culture-negative cases.
- Vitreous sTREM-1 levels reflect intraocular inflammation and disease severity in PTBE.
- Further research may validate sTREM-1 for clinical application in PTBE diagnosis.
