Characterization of cytokine gene expression associated with noninfectious human immunodeficiency virus retinopathy in human autopsy eyes

Kozak, I., Cheng, L., Rought, S., Woelk, C.H., Barron, E.C., Schrier, R.D., Corbeil, J. and Freeman, W.R. (2010) Characterization of cytokine gene expression associated with noninfectious human immunodeficiency virus retinopathy in human autopsy eyes. Retina, 30 (6), 952-957. (doi:10.1097/IAE.0b013e3181c700f8). (PMID:20084053)

Abstract

PURPOSE:: The purpose of this study was to determine the cytokine-related pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus retinopathy in human autopsy eyes.

METHODS:: Fresh autopsy eyes were procured from clinically diagnosed patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who had died as a result of disease-related complications; eyes were immediately immersed in RNAlater. Clean 2-mm trephines were used to punch individual pathologic retina in areas of cotton-wool spots and control punches. Total RNA was extracted using the TRIzol extraction protocol, and the optimal density of the RNA was measured at an optical density of 260 nm. [Delta]Ct (cytokine) values were calculated using the comparative cytokine analysis method. The results are expressed as a mean fold modulation and as a statistical comparison of Ct values controlling for retinal areas without a lesion in the same eye.

RESULTS:: The fold modulations and the statistical comparisons of the cytokines studied in tissues from cotton-wool spots and control retina, respectively, regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), macrophage inflammatory protein 1beta, macrophage inflammatory protein 1alpha (5.32x, P = 0.04), and Bcl-2-associated X protein (1.24x, P = 0.05) had a marked elevation of fold modulation and were statistically significant compared with control tissue. Interleukin-8 (1.09x, P = 0.18), interleukin-4, and interleukin-10 (2.7x, P = 0.30) were not significantly expressed in cotton-wool spots.

CONCLUSION:: Certain inflammatory human immunodeficiency virus-associated and apoptotic cytokines are expressed in cotton-wool spots in eyes with human immunodeficiency virus retinopathy.

This record has no associated files available for download.

Contributors

Download statistics