Roles of elevated intravitreal IL-1β and IL-10 levels in proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Purpose: To determine the roles of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 in the vitreous of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Materials and Methods: Vitreous samples were obtained from 26 eyes of 26 patients with PDR and from eight eyes of eight cases without PDR. The IL-1β and IL-10 concentration in the vitreous was measured by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Levels of IL-1β and IL-10 in vitreous were higher in PDR patients compared with control group. And there was significantly negative correlation between IL-1β and IL-10 in control group (r = −0.795; P = 0.032), whereas there was no significant correlation in PDR group (r = 0.176; P = 0.391). Conclusion: Levels of IL-1β and IL-10 were upregulated in vitreous of PDR patients, and these two cytokines play roles in regulating the development and progression of PDR.