Chemokines and gelatinases in the aqueous humor of patients with active uveitis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the involvement of the chemokines CXCL10/IP-10, CXCL11/I-TAC, CXCL8/1L-8, CXCL6/GCP-2, CCL3/MIP-1alpha, and CCL18/PARC, and gelatinases A and B in uveitis. DESIGN: Prospective, experimental, case,control study. METHODS: Aqueous humor samples from 30 patients with active uveitis, and 14 control patients and paired serum samples were assayed for chemokines with specific enzyme,linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and for gelatinase levels by quantitative zymography. RESULTS: In control AH, none of the chemokines was detected. Gelatinase A was detected in all samples, and gelatinase B was detected in only one sample. In patients with uveitis, IP-10 was detected in all AH samples, whereas I-TAC, IL-8, GCP-2, MIP-1alpha, and PARC were detected in three, 16, six, two, and 12 samples, respectively. IP-10 levels were significantly higher in AH samples than those of serum (P = .006). Gelatinase A was detected in 29 AH samples and gelatinase B was detected in 26 samples. Gelatinase A levels were significantly higher in AH samples from patients than those of controls (P < .0001). In 11 AH samples, gelatinase B was detected in complex with lipocalin (NGAL). Disease activity correlated significantly with the levels of IP-10 (r = .627; P < .0001), gelatinase A (r = .508; P = .002), gelatinase B (r = .685; P < .0001), and NGAL, gelatinase B complex (r = .595; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest a pathogenic role of the T lymphocyte chemoattractant IP-10 and gelatinases in the recruitment and activity of T cells into the eye in patients with uveitis and in the pathogenesis of uveitis. (C) 2004 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.