CHARACTERIZATION OF THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE INDUCED BY CORNEAL INFECTION WITH PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA

In order to characterize the inflammatory response to corneal infectio n by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ocular cytokine and arachidonic acid meta bolite levels were determined in the C57BL/6J strain of mice. The effe cts of topical anti-inflammatory drugs on the ability of the mice to c lear viable P. aeruginosa from the eyes during the 12 day infection pe riod was also examined. Ocular IL-1 alpha, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were de tected over an 11 day time period. Little or no bacteria, as determine d by quantitative plate counts, was detected after this time period. T he kinetics of the cytokine production varied from one another, with a n immediate release of peak levels of IL-1 alpha within 24 hours after infection which did not begin to approach baseline until 9 to 11 days after infection. Five to ten-fold lower concentrations of IL-6 and TN F-alpha were detected. IL-6 levels were induced at 24 hours after infe ction but there was essentially no distinct peak time-point. Peak leve ls of TNF-alpha were detected at 6 days post-infection. The kinetics o f arachidonic acid metabolite release from infected eyes were also exa mined. Peak levels of PGE(2) and TxB(2) were observed at 6 days post-i nfection whereas peak LTB(4) levels were determined at 3 days post-inf ection. Topical treatment of infected eyes with the two anti-inflammat ory drugs, prednisolone or quercetin, resulted in higher ocular bacter ial levels throughout the infection.