Tear levels of apoptotic, matrix-degrading and antioxidant biomarkers in patients with and without keratoconus: A cross sectional study

PURPOSE

To assess the tear levels of a set of apoptotic, matrix-degrading and antioxidant biomarkers, including Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) and Superoxide Dismutase 3-Extracellular (SOD3).

METHODS

Sandwich-ELISA commercial kits were used to test the expression of the three tear biomarkers in the lacrimal fluid of eligible participants. Linear logistic regression analysis was performed todetermine whether the set of tear biomarkers could be associated with clinically manifest keratoconus. ROC curve analysis using 10-fold cross-validation was performedto evaluate the prediction accuracy of the model.

RESULTS

Eighty-one participants aged 30-48 years old were enrolled in this study; 48 were patients with keratoconus and 33 were age-matched healthy subjects. The linear combination of the three tear biomarkers levels (AUC = 0.811; CI 95 %: 0.712-0.911) accurately indicated the existence of keratoconus; higher levels of MMP9 (Odd Ratio: 1.069; CI 95 %: 1.029-1.130) and HMGB1 (OR: 1.011; CI 95 %: 1.003-1.022) and lower levels of SOD3 (OR: 0.994; CI 95 %: 0.989-0.997) were significantly associated with a higher probability of keratoconus.

CONCLUSION

Multivariable analysis of the set of tear levels of MMP9, HMGB1 and SOD3 biomarkers confirmed a chronic state of inflammation in the ocular surface of patients with keratoconus.

Kinetics of plasma cytokines and chemokines during primary HIV-1 infection and after analytical treatment interruption

BACKGROUND

There are strong theoretical arguments for initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) during primary HIV-1 infection (PHI) to preserve HIV-1-specific T-cell responses and to decrease immune activation.

METHODS

We assessed the degree of immune activation during PHI and after analytical treatment interruption (ATI) in plasma samples from 22 subjects by measuring 13 cytokines/chemokines with the Luminex system. Subjects initiated quadruple ART at PHI (the QUEST cohort) and were classified as responders or nonresponders according to their HIV-1 viral load (VL) 6 months post-ATI.

RESULTS

During PHI, nonresponders had higher levels of HIV-1 RNA, interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-10 and eotaxin than responders (P</=0.05). A positive correlation was found between VL and IFN-alpha, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha and MIP-1beta, respectively. Post ATI, responders had higher levels of IFN-gamma, MIP-1beta and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 than nonresponders, while nonresponders had higher levels of HIV-1 RNA, IL-15 and eotaxin. Cytokine/chemokine levels were higher during PHI than post-ATI.

CONCLUSIONS

High levels of immune activation during PHI are associated with a worse virological outcome post-ATI. In contrast, VL post-ATI is negatively correlated with IFN-gamma and chemokines. Therefore, the degree of immune activation during PHI is associated with both the VL at PHI and the viral set-point post-ART.