Systemic profile of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and its changes in patients with cataract after surgery

Background. Due to its high prevalence and morbidity, cataract is an urgent medical and social problem. In recent years, immune inflammation, in particular the immune regulation of dystrophic processes, has been of great importance in the pathogenesis of eye diseases. Immunological disorders play a crucial role in the development of age-related eye diseases (cataract, corneal dystrophy, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration). The effect of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines on the development of age-related cataract remains understudied, as well at their role in predicting the course of the postoperative period after extraction of age-related cataract has not been fully stu­died, which determines the relevance of the study. The objective: to assess the state of cytokine profile in patients with age-related cataract by determining the content of pro-inflammatory (IL-1β, IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-10) interleukins in blood serum before and after surgical treatment of cataract. Materials and methods. The level of pro-inflammatory (IL-1β, IL-6) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) was studied before and after surgical treatment in 28 patients with age-related cataract (56 eyes), 8 men and 20 women aged 42 to 82 years. The average age of the patients was 71.79 ± 1.90 years. Serum content of cytokines was determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using test systems Vector-Best-Ukraine. Results. There was no excess of IL-1β and IL-6 reference values in the blood serum of patients with age-related cataract prior to surgical treatment. Analysis of the pro-inflammatory IL-6 in these patients depending on sex revealed a significant increase in its level by 1.3 times in men and a significant decrease by 1.1 times in women compared to its average content (p < 0.06 and p < 0.01, respectively). The level of anti-inflammatory IL-4 and IL-10 in the blood serum of the examined patients was within the reference values. When studying the content of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory interleukins in serum depending on sex and age in patients with age-related cataract aged 75 years and older, there was a statistically significant increase in IL-6 and IL-10. In this age group, the level of IL-6 was 1.4 times higher in men compared to women, and IL-10 was 1.8 times higher in women than in men. In patients with age-related cataract after surgical treatment, serum content of pro-inflammatory IL-1β, IL-6 and anti-inflammatory IL-4, IL-10 was higher than levels before surgery. The highest levels of IL-1β, IL-6 were in patients with postoperative corneal edema. Serum content of IL-6 in patients with postoperative corneal edema was higher compared to that of IL-1β. Levels of IL-4, IL-10 were higher in patients with postoperative corneal edema, IL-10 in these patients prevailed over IL-4. Conclusions. In patients with age-rela­ted cataract, the content of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the blood serum corresponds to reference values and has no signi­ficant differences from the control group. However, determination of the cytokine profile in people with age-related cataract revealed a violation of the systemic immunological status depending on age and gender. According to our results, patients with age-related cataract over 75 years of age had a significant increase in the level of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in blood serum. In this age group, IL-6 was higher in men and IL-10 was higher in women. We also noted the absence of significant differences in the content of IL-1β, which may indicate a more specific value of IL-6 levels for the development of cataract. In patients with age-related cataract after surgical treatment, serum levels of pro-inflammatory IL-1β, IL-6 and anti-inflammatory IL-4, IL-10 were higher than preoperative ones. The highest levels of IL-1β, IL-6 were in the blood serum of patients with postope­rative corneal edema, and a decrease in the level of IL-4, IL-10 was also noted in cases of corneal edema. Serum content of IL-6 in patients with postoperative corneal edema was higher than that of IL-1β, and IL-10 prevailed over IL-4 levels.