Levels of Interleukin 27 and Interleukin 35 in the Serum and Vitreous of Patients with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To examine the role of interleukin 27(IL-27) and interleukin 35 (IL-35) in diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: Patients with diabetes mellitus were divided into three groups: diabetes without retinopathy (DWR), non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Patients with idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane (IMEM) were included as a control group. The serum and vitreous levels of IL-27 and IL-35 were measured using ELISA.

Results: The serum levels of IL-27 (median 240.900 pg/mL, range 42.224 – 617.810 pg/mL; p < 0.001) and IL-35 (median 11.875 ng/mL, range 8.640 – 19.340 ng/mL; p < 0.001) were significantly decreased in PDR patients compared to controls (median 2712.310 pg/mL, range 1005.375–5786.877 pg/mL and median 25.185 ng/mL, range 22.845 – 29.590 ng/mL, respectively). The vitreous levels of IL-35 were significantly decreased in PDR patients (16.32 ± 3.24 ng/mL) compared to controls (24.54 ± 5.86 ng/mL, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Serum and vitreous levels of IL-35 and serum level of IL-27 may be associated with the pathogenesis of PDR.

Keywords:

• Interleukin-27
• interleukin-35
• immune response
• inflammation
• proliferative diabetic retinopathy

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

FUNDING

This study was funded by the China National Science Foundation (No. 81371843).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the China National Science Foundation (No. 81371843).