Protein Profile of Immunoregulatory Factors in Diabetic Cataract
Protein Profile of Immunoregulatory Factors in Diabetic Cataract
The purpose of this study is to compare the levels of several immunoregulatory factors in
 serums and aqueous humor of type II diabetes cataract patients with those in senile
 non-diabetic cataract patients since disturbed cytokine and growth factor microenvironment in
 diabetic eye may contribute to an increased frequency of intraoperative and postoperative
 intraocular lens surgery complications.
The study compared the levels of several immunoregulatory molecules (vascular endothelial
 growth factor (VEGF), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), Fas Ligand (FasL),
 interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-17 (IL-17)) in serum and aqueous humor between type 2
 diabetes mellitus patients, without clinically evident diabetic retinopathy or diabetic
 macular edema, and nondiabetic cataract patients.

 Investigators also investigated whether concentrations of immunoregulatory molecules
 significantly correlated with intraoperative and postoperative parameters. Particularly,
 investigators focused on the development of corneal edema as one of the main causes of low
 visual acuity in the immediate postoperative period after intraocular lens implantation.

 Since disturbed cytokine and growth factor microenvironment in diabetic eye may contribute to
 an increased frequency of intraoperative and postoperative intraocular lens (IOL) surgery
 complications, the findings may be relevant for the development of therapeutic strategies
 aimed to restore protein profile of immunoregulatory factors in parallel to cataract
 treatment.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  patients undergoing phacoemulsification combined with IOL implantation

 -  for diabetic group: duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for 10 to 15 years

 -  for diabetic group: therapy with oral hypoglycemic agents for glycemic control

 -  no other ocular (retinal) or systemic diabetic complications of T2DM

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  patients who had cataract that could result from some other ocular condition, systemic
 disease (except T2DM for diabetic group) or trauma

 -  patients with immune disease, local or systemic inflammation which could affect
 cytokine concentration in serum or aqueous humor (AH)