Roles of IL-8 in Ocular Inflammations: A Review

Abstract

Introduction: This review presents the current in vitro and in vivo animal and human research on the roles of IL-8 in ocular inflammatory diseases.

Materials and Methods: Data sources were a literature review using Pub Med, Medline, and ISI databases (from 1990 to 2011). Search items included interleukine-8 (IL-8), CXCL8, chemokines, cytokines, alone or in combination with the, serum, aqueous, vitreous, eye, ocular, ocular tissues, ophthalmic, and review.

Results: IL-8 may be involved in primary or secondary ocular inflammations. Ocular effects of IL-8 differ based on the source of the secretion and site of the action. The most important effects of IL-8 in the eyes are angiogenic activities and induction of ocular inflammation.

Conclusion: IL-8 plays important roles in ocular inflammation and angiogenesis in conjunctiva, cornea, iris, retina, and orbit. Anti-IL-8 targeted immunotherapy has been introduced as an important treatment modality, provided that IL-8 signal blocking takes place in desired areas and tissues.

Keywords::

• angiogenesis
• chemokine
• cytokine
• interleukine-8
• ocular inflammation

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We appreciate the financial and logistical support of Janbazan Engineering and Medical Research Center (JEMRC) and the Immunoregulation Research Center of Shahed University. Also, special thanks to IOS Press and K. Kanagarajadurai and R. Sowdhamini for copyright permission to use the color figures.

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