The expression of cytokines in the aqueous humor and serum during endotoxin-induced uveitis in C3H/HeN mice

PURPOSE: The cytokines present in the aqueous humor and serum of C3H/HeN mice with endotoxin-induced acute anterior uveitis were analyzed, and the potential role of the cytokines in the pathogenesis of the disease was investigated. METHODS: One hundred and eighty C3H/HeN mice were divided into an experimental group (n=150) and a control group (n=30). The mice in the experimental group were footpad-injected with 200 μg Vibro cholerae endotoxin (classical biotype, serotype Ogawa). The mice were then executed 4 h, 8 h, 16 h, 24 h, and 48 h after the injection of endotoxin. Aqueous humor and peripheral blood samples were collected using a microinjector. Ten samples were pooled together for analysis and centrifuged at 705× g, at 4 °C, for 3 min. The supernatant was collected and stored at −80 °C. The concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the samples were measured using a Cytometric Bead Array (CBA). RESULTS: Acute anterior uveitis was successfully induced in C3H/HeN mice. At roughly 16 h post-injection, the concentrations of both IL-1 and IL-6 reached peak levels, and were significantly different from the control group (p=0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). At 24 h post-injection, the concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-10 in the aqueous humor reached peak levels, and were significantly different from the control group (p=0.022 and p=0.003). The concentrations of IFN-γ in serum at 4 and 24 hours were significantly different from the control group (p=0.033 and p=0.032). The concentration of IL-10 in serum, at 24 h post-injection, was also found to be significantly different from the control group (p=0.003). The cytokine expression levels in the aqueous humor were consistent with what would be expected during the process of inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Both IL-1 and IL-6 appear to play an important role in acute anterior uveitis; furthermore, the severity of inflammation may be associated with the dynamic balance of IFN-γ and IL-10. Our results suggest that the cytokine network might be a useful therapeutic target in the treatment of acute anterior uveitis.