Regulatory cytokines prescribe the outcome of the inflammation in the process of PEX production.

Background: The purpose of this study is to reveal the participation of different regulatory cytokines within the process of pseudoexfoliation (PEX). Methods: Our study included 140 patients referred to cataract surgery with early and late stage of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (XFS) or pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (XFG). Humor and serum levels of cytokines: transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), IL-8 and interferon-inducible T cell alpha chemoattractant (ITAC) were measured in a sample using high sensitivity enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Results: Our results indicate that profibrotic action induced by increasing TGF-beta and PDGF locally activates fibrous tissue production in the early XFS with a prolonged effect of PDGF (late XFS) and finally (XFG stage) it is dominantly controlled by EGF and IGF. ITAC overrides angiogenetic effects of IL-8 in XFG. Conclusion: Based on our findings, local chronic inflammation in the eye is accompanied by the secretion of different profibrotic cytokines (TGF-beta, PDGF, EGF, IGF, IL-8) without angiogenesis due to effects of ITAC.