Features of the local cytokine profile in patients with secondary corneal dystrophy of various etiologies

Goal. To study the features of the local cytokine profile of patients with secondary corneal dystrophy of various etiologies. Material and methods. The study was conducted among 4 patients: 1 – with bullous kerathopathy, 1 – with secondary postherpetic corneal dystrophy, 1 – with secondary keratectasia and 1 – with secondary corneal dystrophy of neurogenic origin. The quantitative content of cytokines in the lacrimal fluid was studied: interleukin (IL) 1β, 6, 4, 10, transforming growth factor β2 (TGF-β2). Results. All patients had in 3.0-4.3-fold increase in IL-1β and a 2.0-4.1-fold increase in IL-6. In bullous kerathopathy and secondary corneal dystrophy of neurogenic origin, there was in 1.1-and 1.2-fold increase in IL-4 in both cases, and a slight increase in IL-10 and TGF-β2. At the same time, in secondary keratectasia and secondary postherpetic corneal dystrophy, there was a decrease in the level of these cytokines: IL-4 by 1.7 and 1.3 times, respectively, IL-10 by 1.2 times in both cases, and TGF-β2 by 1.5 and 1.3 times, respectively. Conclusion. The study of the local cytokine profile in patients with secondary corneal dystrophy of different etiologies indicates the presence of similar aspects of pathogenesis, which is of some interest and deserves further study. The obtained results open up prospects for the development of personalized cytokine therapy for secondary corneal dystrophy of various etiologies. Key words: secondary corneal dystrophy, immunology, cytokines.