Cytokines in aqueous humour and serum before and after corneal transplantation and during rejection

Cytokine profiles in aqueous humour were studied in relation to corneal dis ease and subsequent corneal graft survival or rejection, Cytokine levels in samples obtained from eyes with clear grafts (n = 59) were all within the normal range. At the time of penetrating keratoplasty (n = 146), intraocula r levels of IL-6 were increased in 38% (50/131), most markedly in eyes with previous allograft failure or herpetic stromal keratitis, The level of IL- 10 was increased in 1 eye (n = 144) and of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in none. Duri ng rejection (n = 10), the levels of IL-6 in aqueous humour were increased in 75% (3/4), of IL-10 in 50% (3/6), of IL-4 in none (0/4) and of IFN-gamma 40% (2/5). In conclusion, the levels of total protein and IL-6 were increa sed prior to penetrating keratoplasty in eyes with previous inflammation. T hese results could however not predict the final outcome of the graft. Incr eased intraocular levels of IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-gamma were observed during rejection. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.