THE BELGIAN OPHTHALMIC ASSOCIATIONS
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This abstract is assigned to session OB Free papers: Anterior segment
| Title | FRO: Inflammatory cytokines in the tears of patients with vascularized corneas |
| Abstract Nr. | 261 |
| Purpose | To analyze tear cytokine levels in tear fluid using cytometric bead array analysis. |
| Methods | The experimental design consists of a control group and a test group. In both groups tear samples, basal tears as well as reflex tears, will be taken at a fixed time. In case of reflex tears the production site of cytokines will be investigated. To measure the serum cytokine levels, a blood sample will be taken and compared with the cytokine levels in the tearfluid. Corneal epithelial secretions will be collected with the help of a corneal bath. |
| Results | There are two preliminary results of reflex tears done which show a significant increase in IL-8, MCP and VEGF. Comparing the mean values of VEGF present in these two preliminary results with the VEGF levels present in the serum of 46 post MI cardiology patients with normal eyes, shows a 10 fold increase of VEGF in tear fluid compared to serum. The high levels of VEGF found in non-vascularised eyes cannot be attributed to leakage from the conjunctival blood vessels. Therefore high VEGF levels are being secreted by either the lacrimal gland or by the ocular surface epithelia. Cultured corneal epithelial cells were stained with antibodies against VEGF receptors R1 and R3, which have both been proposed to act as decoy receptors in the cornea and responsible for avascularity of the cornea. About 50% of the cells stained positive for the VEGF R1, but there was only weak staining of the R3 receptor with only few cells expressing the receptor protein. Further analysis of VEGF levels in vascularized corneas is under investigation. |
| Conclusion | With these results in mind we suspect higher VEGF levels in vascularized corneas. |
Author 1
| Last name | VAN GRASDORFF |
| Initials | S |
| City | Antwerp |
Author 2
| Last name | ZAKARIA |
| Initials | N |
| City | Antwerp |
Author 3
| Last name | KOPPEN |
| Initials | C |
| City | Antwerp |
Author 4
| Last name | TASSIGNON |
| Initials | MJ |
| City | Antwerp |