Novel inflammatory cytokines (IL-36, 37, 38) in the aqueous humor from patients with chronic primary angle closure glaucoma.

Glaucoma eventually leads to optic nerve damage and vision loss without medical intervention. More than 50% of glaucoma caused blindness are attributed to primary angle closure glaucoma, particularly in Asians. It is reported that immune inflammation is involved in the progress of glaucoma. Increased inflammation cytokines are detected in the aqueous humor of chronic primary angle closure glaucoma (CPACG). IL-36, IL-37 and IL-38, are novel cytokines and are involved in many inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases and acute anterior uveitis, but the possible contributing role in the pathogenesis of CPACG is unclear. In our current study, increased IL-36, IL-37 and IL-38 were detected in the aqueous humor of CPACG compared with age-related cataract (ARC). Furthermore, a significant correlation was detected between mean deviation of visual field (MDVF) of CPACG and IL-36, IL-37 or IL-38, respectively. Our data suggest IL-36, IL-37 and IL-38 might contribute to the immunological mediated pathogenesis of CPACG, despite the eye being an immune-privileged organ under normal conditions. The precise underlying mechanism of these cytokines during the development of CPACG remains to be explored. Our findings may be useful in therapeutic targeting of specific pathology.