Abstract: Expression of CXCL9/10/11 + CXCR3 in DES' pt tear film

...Continuing in the perennial hunt for The Dry Eye Diagnostic. Quite interesting actually.

Expression of CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11, and CXCR3 in the Tear Film and Ocular Surface of Patients with Dry Eye Syndrome.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 Oct 22. [Epub ahead of print]
Yoon KC, Park CS, You IC, Choi HJ, Lee KH, Im SK, Park HY, Pflugfelder SC.

Purpose: To investigate the expression of CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCR3 in the tear film and ocular surface of patients with dry eye syndrome.

Methods: Thirty-three patients with dry eye (16 Sjögren's syndrome and 17 non-Sjögren's syndrome patients) and 15 control subjects were recruited. The concentrations of CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 in tears were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The correlation between chemokine levels and tear film and ocular surface parameters was analyzed. Expression of CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCR3 in the conjunctiva was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Flow cytometry was performed to count CXCR3+ cells and CXCR3+CD4+ cells in the conjunctiva.

Results: The concentrations of CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 were 1,148+/-1,088, 24,338+/-8,706, and 853+/-334 pg/ml in dry eye patients, and 272+/-269 (P=0.01), 18,149+/-5,266 (P=0.02), and 486+/-175 (P<0.01) pg/ml in control subjects, respectively. The concentrations significantly increased in tears of Sjögren's syndrome patients compared with those of non-Sjögren's syndrome patients (P<0.05). CXCL10 levels correlated significantly with basal tear secretion, and CXCL11 levels correlated significantly with basal tear secretion, tear clearance rate, keratoepitheliopathy score, and goblet cell density (P<0.05). Staining for CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11 and CXCR3 increased in dry eye patients, especially in Sjögren's syndrome patients. Flow cytometry demonstrated an increased number of CXCR3+ cells and CXCR3+CD4+ cells in dry eye patients.

Conclusions: Expression of CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCR3 increases in the tear film and ocular surface of patients with dry eye syndrome, especially in those with Sjögren's syndrome. CXCL11 levels correlate significantly with various tear film and ocular surface parameters.