Cytokine Profile In Aqueous Humor Varies With Cataract Grading: Insights From A Prospective Biomarker Study

Published 2023 - 41st Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: FP21.02 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/yh39-ex58

Authors: Catharina Latz* ¹ , Kai Zimmer ² , Annika Licht ¹ , Eicke Latz ³ , Alireza Mirshahi ¹

¹Dardenne Eye Clinic,Bonn,Germany, ²Innate Immunology,Bonn University,Bonn,Germany, ³Innate Immunology,Bonn Universtitzy,Bonn,Germany

Purpose

To investigate the cytokine profile in the aqueous humor of patients undergoing cataract surgery and to explore its association with cataract severity.

Setting

Single-center prospective biomarker study.

Methods

This study included 397 eyes of 397 patients (median age 76, range 30-94) who underwent standard small incision phacoemulsification surgery. Aqueous humor was obtained at the very beginning after performing a paracentesis. Eyes were graded using the LOCS III system: mild (≤3), moderate (3.5-5), and severe (≥5). We measured cytokine levels of 11 different proteins using a multiplex cytokine assay (Ayoxxa Biosystems, Cologne, Germany) including Interleukin (IL)- 6, IL-8, Angiopoietin-2 (ANG-2),C-reactive Protein (CRP), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A (VEGF-A), Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, Placental Growth Factor (PLGF), Chemokine ligand (CXCL) 12, CXCL13 and CXCL10 . Patient data was obtained from clinical records.

Results

Higher nuclear LOCS grades correlated with higher age (p< 0.001), and increased levels of CCL 2 (360 vs 387 vs 517 pg/ml, p<0.001), VEGF A (270 vs 292 vs 390 pg/ml, p=0.012), IL-8 (3.1 vs 4.2 vs 5.7 pg/ml, p=0.018) and CXCL10 (52 vs 61 vs 90 pg/ml, p=0.003). No associations were observed for cortical and subcapsular cataracts.

Conclusions

The cytokine profile of aqueous humor varies based on cataract grading, particularly in nuclear cataract cases. We detected elevated levels of CCL2, VEGF-A, IL-8 and CXCL10 in highly dense nuclear cataracts.