Changes of the cytokine content in serum of patients with diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration
The level of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-10 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) has been studied in the serum of 19 patients with preproliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR), 14 - proliferative DR, 20 - dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), 15 -wet AMD and 20 healthy volunteers (control group). Kits for highly sensitive ELISA (Bender MedSystems) were used for determination of the cytokines. The concentrations of IL-2 in patients with various forms of DR and AMD did not differ from control. The level of IL-4 in patients with wet and dry AMD and preproliferative DR also did not differ from those of healthy donors. In patients with proliferative DR, median of IL-4 content was lower than control almost doubled. Concentrations of IL-10 were not different from control in patients with both forms of DR, but were twice above control in patients with dry and wet AMD. The content of IFN-γ in patients with proliferative DR and preproliferative and dry AMD was in one and a half times higher than in healthy donors; in patients with wet AMD, IFN-γ concentration did not differ from control.