Rete Ridges in Eyelid Margin and Inflammatory Cytokines in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Associated with Dry Eye Symptom

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To evaluate the morphology and function of rete ridges in eyelid margin and inflammatory cytokines in meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) associated with dry eye symptom.

Methods

A total of 63 subjects with OSDI score ≥13 were enrolled in MGD group and no-MGD group. Main measurements included tear cytokines levels and the rete ridges morphology.

Results

Meibomian gland loss (MGL), corneal staining score (CSS), and IL-6 and TNF-α increased, meibomian gland secretion (MGS) decreased, the density of the rete ridges was lower, the longest diameters and shortest diameters of the rete ridges were longer in MGD group. The MGD group showed a negative correlation between MGL and BUT and MGS, but it showed a positive correlation with CSS. CSS was negatively correlated with IL-6. LLT was negatively correlated with IL-2 and IL-4. The shortest diameters of rete ridges in eyelid margin had a significant positive correlation with IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ levels.

Conclusion

Change of meibomian gland function and the rete ridges morphology might have some correlation with the injury to ocular surface. Some inflammatory cytokines were correlated with the change of the rete ridges morphology, which might in turn affect the ocular surface function.

KEYWORDS:

• Rete ridges
• inflammatory cytokines
• meibomian gland dysfunction
• dry eye

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Grant 2020YFC2003904 from the Science and Technology Ministry of China, Grant 81770953 from National Natural Science Foundation, Grant 2018ZHYL0222 from Intelligent Medical Project of Shanghai, Grant 17411950204 from the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality.