[Cytokine mRNA expression in vernal keratoconjunctivitis].

BACKGROUND

Cytokines play an important role in chronic allergic eye disease.

OBJECTIVES

We examined how many kinds of cytokines are in giant papillae of vernal keratoconjunctivitis(VKC).

METHODS

We resected giant papillae from 6 patients with VKC, and studied mRNA expression of cytokines in them with the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The cytokines were interleukin(IL)-1 beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 RA), IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, interferon (INF) gamma, tumor necrosis factor(TNF) alpha, TNF beta, transforming growth factor(TGF) beta 1, and TGF beta 2.

RESULTS

In 5 cases, expression of IL-1 beta was positive. Expression of IL-1 RA, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, TGF beta 1, and TGF beta 2 was positive in 6 cases. TNF alpha was positive in 4 cases. IL-4 and INF gamma were positive in 3 cases. IL-2 and TNF beta were negative in all patients.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the Th2 cytokines play more important roles than the Th1 cytokines in VKC inflammation.