ABSTRACT
TGFBI gene mutations cause corneal stromal dystrophies of autosomal dominant inheritance. The most frequent complication of stromal dystrophies is recurrent corneal erosion with varying degree of accompanying inflammation. IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 are main cytokines involved in corneal erosion healing. This study aimed to investigate the association between IL1B gene -511C/T, IL6 gene -174G/C and IL8 gene -781C/T polymorphisms and risk of recurrent erosion development in patients with hereditary corneal stromal dystrophies. A trend to decrease of IL1B gene -511TT genotype frequency in group with erosion (3.7%) comparing to control (6.7%) was observed. IL6 gene -174C allele carriers frequency in control group (65.9%) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower comparing to patients with erosion (80.5%). Frequency of IL8 -781TT genotype was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the group with erosion (10.7%) comparing to patients without erosion (30.8%) and control (25%). IL6 gene -174C allele may be considered as genetic marker of corneal erosion risk in patients with hereditary stromal corneal dystrophies, whereas IL8 -781TT genotype is associated with negative recurrent erosion prognosis in such patients.
