Sung A Lim1, Doo Hyun Nam, Jee Hye Lee, Seung-Ki Kwok, Sung-Hwan Park, So-Hyang Chung. 1. *Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea; †Catholic Institute for Visual Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea; ‡Northfield Mount Hermon School, MA; and §Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
PURPOSE: IL-21 plays an important role in primary Sjögren syndrome (SS) pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate IL-21 expression in tears and the conjunctiva and to analyze the impact of IL-21 on primary SS dry eyes. METHODS: Eighty subjects were enrolled in this study: 30 patients with primary SS dry eye (30 eyes); 30 patients with non-SS dry eye (30 eyes), and 20 normal controls. Tear IL-21 levels were measured by flow cytometry, and IL-21 gene expression in the conjunctiva from impression cytology was evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Ocular Surface Disease Index, tear film breakup time, Schirmer I test, and ocular surface staining scores were obtained for all patients. RESULTS: Primary SS dry eyes had significantly higher tear IL-21 levels than non-SS dry eyes and normal controls (P < 0.01). In addition, IL-21 gene expression in the conjunctiva was also higher in primary SS dry eyes than in non-SS dry eyes and normal controls (P < 0.01). However, there were no significant differences in IL-21 expression in tears and the conjunctiva between non-SS dry eyes and controls. The tear IL-21 level was significantly correlated with ocular surface stain scores (r = 0.54, P < 0.01) and Schirmer I test values (r = -0.23, P < 0.05) in primary SS dry eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that severity of primary SS dry eye is associated with IL-21.
PURPOSE:IL-21 plays an important role in primary Sjögren syndrome (SS) pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate IL-21 expression in tears and the conjunctiva and to analyze the impact of IL-21 on primary SS dry eyes. METHODS: Eighty subjects were enrolled in this study: 30 patients with primary SS dry eye (30 eyes); 30 patients with non-SS dry eye (30 eyes), and 20 normal controls. Tear IL-21 levels were measured by flow cytometry, and IL-21 gene expression in the conjunctiva from impression cytology was evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Ocular Surface Disease Index, tear film breakup time, Schirmer I test, and ocular surface staining scores were obtained for all patients. RESULTS:Primary SS dry eyes had significantly higher tear IL-21 levels than non-SS dry eyes and normal controls (P < 0.01). In addition, IL-21 gene expression in the conjunctiva was also higher in primary SS dry eyes than in non-SS dry eyes and normal controls (P < 0.01). However, there were no significant differences in IL-21 expression in tears and the conjunctiva between non-SS dry eyes and controls. The tear IL-21 level was significantly correlated with ocular surface stain scores (r = 0.54, P < 0.01) and Schirmer I test values (r = -0.23, P < 0.05) in primary SS dry eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that severity of primary SS dry eye is associated with IL-21.
Authors: Merri-Grace Allred; Michael S Chimenti; Ashley E Ciecko; Yi-Guang Chen; Scott M Lieberman Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2021-04-05 Impact factor: 5.923
Authors: M Paula Gomez Hernandez; Emily E Starman; Andrew B Davis; Miyuraj Harishchandra Hikkaduwa Withanage; Erliang Zeng; Scott M Lieberman; Kim A Brogden; Emily A Lanzel Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford) Date: 2021-10-02 Impact factor: 7.580