Association of IL-21 Cytokine With Severity of Primary Sjögren Syndrome Dry Eye. Issue 3 (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lim, Sung A.; Nam, Doo Hyun; Lee, Jee Hye; Kwok, Seung-Ki; Park, Sung-Hwan; Chung, So-Hyang
• Is Part Of: Cornea. Volume 34:Issue 3(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: conjunctiva -- dry eye -- IL-21 -- primary Sjögren syndrome -- tear; Cornea -- Periodicals; Cornea -- Periodicals; Cornée -- Périodiques; 617.719
• DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000000363
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-3740

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: IL-21 plays an important role in primary Sjögren syndrome (SS) pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate IL-21 expression in tears and the conjunctiva and to analyze the impact of IL-21 on primary SS dry eyes. Methods: Eighty subjects were enrolled in this study: 30 patients with primary SS dry eye (30 eyes); 30 patients with non-SS dry eye (30 eyes), and 20 normal controls. Tear IL-21 levels were measured by flow cytometry, and IL-21 gene expression in the conjunctiva from impression cytology was evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Ocular Surface Disease Index, tear film breakup time, Schirmer I test, and ocular surface staining scores were obtained for all patients. Results: Primary SS dry eyes had significantly higher tear IL-21 levels than non-SS dry eyes and normal controls ( P < 0.01). In addition, IL-21 gene expression in the conjunctiva was also higher in primary SS dry eyes than in non-SS dry eyes and normal controls ( P < 0.01). However, there were no significant differences in IL-21 expression in tears and the conjunctiva between non-SS dry eyes and controls. The tear IL-21 level was significantly correlated with ocular surface stain scores (r = 0.54, P < 0.01) and Schirmer I test values (r = −0.23, P < 0.05) in primary SS dry eyes. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that severity of primary SS dry eye is associated with IL-21.