Immune Mediators against Toxoplasma Gondii during Reactivation of Toxoplasmic Retinochoroiditis

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to analyze possible associations between systemic and ocular cytokine levels and specific clinical ophthalmologic signs from patients with a reactivation of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (RTR).

Methods: A total of 18 patients with an active RTR episode, 8 patients with inactive scars, and 14 control patients were included in the study. Serum samples and aqueous humor (AH) samples were analyzed for IFN (interferon)-γ, interleukin (IL)-10, and IL-6 levels by ELISA. Inflammation grade, location, and size of the retinochoroidal active lesion, sampling time, and time to resolution were recorded.

Results: A significantly negative correlation between AH and serum levels of IFN-γ was detected (p < 0.05). Patients with an AH IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio lower than 1 were associated with the longest time to resolution and/or severe complications.

Conclusion: Serum IFN-γ levels may be used as a prognostic marker for both time to resolution and the development of possible severe complications during a given RTR episode.

Keywords:

• Argentina
• IFN-γ
• immune response
• retinochoroiditis
• Toxoplasmosis

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Dr. Daniel Ajzenberg for his useful comments and to Ms. Victoria Illas for her revision of the English style of this manuscript to improve text readability.

Declaration of interest

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

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Universidad Católica de las Misiones: [Grant Number 141-20160212-104-UCAMI 2015], CONICET PIP: [Grant Number 1122011010019], and by private donations made by “Fundación Bronislada Kruchowski de Szychowski” and Don Basilio SRL.