The effect of infliximab, cyclosporine A and recombinant IL-10 on vitreous cytokine levels in experimental autoimmune uveitis.

BACKGROUND: To identify the effect of infliximab, cyclosporine A and recombinant IL-10 in experimental autoimmune uveitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty male rats were assigned to five groups of 12 each. All the groups (except the control group) were administered 30 microg retinal-S antigen intraperitoneally. On the 14th day, after confirmation of uveitis with histopathological study, daily cyclosporine A injection was given in cyclosporine A treatment group and physiological serum in the uveitis-induced placebo treatment and control groups. In the infliximab treatment group, infliximab was administered on the 14th, 15th, 17th, 19th and 21st days. In the recombinant IL-10 treatment group, three doses of recombinant IL-10 were given four hours and a half hours before and eight hours after retinal-S antigen administration. On the 21st day of the study, all rats were sacrificed and vitreous cytokine levels (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha) were studied with ELISA. RESULTS: In the treatment groups, cytokine levels (IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha) were significantly lower than the uveitis-induced placebo treatment group. Compared with the control group, there was no significant difference with respect to TNF-alpha and IL-8 in the infliximab treatment group; IL-8 in the cyclosporine A treatment group; IL-6 and IL-8 in the recombinant IL-10 treatment group. The drugs used did not significantly differ in respect to their effects on vitreous IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha levels. CONCLUSION: Cyclosporine A, infliximab and recombinant IL-10 reduce the vitreous cytokines levels. Among these drugs, recombinant IL-10, which is still in its experimental phase, might be considered as a new therapeutic agent.

Immunological follow-up of hydatid cyst cases

Hydatid disease is caused by Echinococcus granulosus. In this study, we aimed to investigate the benefit of monitoring cases with hydatid cyst by means of immune components in patients in a long-term follow-up after surgery. Eighty-four preoperative and postoperative serum samples from 14 cases undergoing surgery for hydatid disease were evaluated in terms of immune parameters, such as total and specific IgE, IgG, IgM, IgA and complement. Total and specific IgE were determined by ELISA. Specific IgG levels were measured by indirect hemaglutination.Total IgG, IgM, IgA and complement (C3 and C4) were detected by nephelometry. Imaging studies were also carried out during the follow-up. In none of the patients hydatid cysts were detected during the follow-up. Total IgE levels in the sera of the patients decreased to normal six months after surgery. Although specific IgE against echinococcal antigens decreased one year after operation, levels were still significantly high. There were no changes in the levels of anti-Echinococcus IgG and total IgG in follow-up period. Additionally, other parameters, such as IgA, IgM, C3 and C4, were not affected