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Inflammatory molecules in tear fluid in retinitis pigmentosa: an exploratory case-control study
M Mateos-Olivares1,2, E M Sobas2,3,4,5, N Galindo-Cabello2,4,6,5
1Department of Ophthalmology, Bellvitge University Hospital, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain.
Scientific Reports
|May 12, 2026
Summary
Tear fluid analysis reveals lower inflammatory mediators in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients compared to healthy controls. These changes in ocular surface neuroimmune markers did not correlate with RP severity or sleep quality.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited retinal diseases that cause progressive vision loss.
- The ocular surface in RP may involve neuroimmune alterations, but tear-fluid inflammatory mediator profiles are not well characterized.
- Understanding these profiles could offer insights into RP pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare tear-fluid inflammatory mediator profiles between RP patients and healthy controls (HC).
- To investigate associations between tear biomarker profiles and RP severity, anxiety, daytime sleepiness, and sleep quality.
- To explore the potential of tear mediators as non-invasive markers of ocular surface changes in RP.
Main Methods:
- Observational case-control study involving 78 adults with RP and 32 HC.
- Tear samples collected under standardized controlled-environment conditions.
- Biomarker analysis using multiplex immunoassay (xMAP/Luminex) and ELISA for substance P (SP), with statistical analysis adjusted for age and sex.
Main Results:
- RP patients exhibited significantly lower concentrations of EGF, GRO, IL-8, MCP-1, and IL-1RA in tear fluid compared to HC.
- Reduced detectability of certain low-concentration analytes was also observed in RP.
- No significant associations were found between tear biomarker profiles and RP severity, anxiety, sleepiness, or sleep quality within the RP cohort after correction for multiple comparisons.
Conclusions:
- Tear fluid contains distinct inflammatory mediator profiles in RP, suggesting ocular surface neuroimmune alterations.
- These findings are exploratory due to potential age/sex imbalances and lack of tear dilution normalization in the control group.
- Tear mediators may offer complementary, non-invasive information for RP research, warranting further investigation.
