- Email: [email protected]
Leukotriene B4 levels in the aqueous humor of patients with senile cataract
CURRENT THERAPEUTIC RESEARCH VOL.54, NO. 3, SEPTEMBER1993 LEUKOTRIENE B4 LEVELS IN THE AQUEOUS HUMOR OF PATIENTS WITH SENILE CATARACT A Pilot Study KUNIHIK0 SHIND01 AND MAKIK0TANAKA2 1First Department of Internal Medicine, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, and 2Division of Ophthalmology, Yokosuka North Mutual Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan
ABSTRACT L e u k o t r i e n e B 4 (LTB 4) levels in the aqueous humor of three patients
with senile cataract were measured using radioimmunoassay. The mean LTB4 level in the patients with senile cataract was 0.70 - 0.03 pmol/ml, compared with levels of 0.78 -+ 0.15 pmol/ml in patients with diabetic cataract and 0.63 - 0.13 pmol/ml in healthy subjects. The difference between groups was not significant. We conclude that LTB4 is not associated with the development of senile cataract.
INTRODUCTION Leukotriene B 4 (LTB 4) is one of the chemical mediators involved with inflammation. Its bioavailability is based on an ability to permeate the vasculature and on chemotaxis. However, data concerning LTB4 levels in h u m a n ocular tissues are insufficient. One reason for this lack of data is the difficulty of obtaining large amounts of aqueous humor from ocular tissue. Another reason is t h a t there are few chances for obtaining samples from h e a l t h y ocular tissue. The aim of this study was to determine whether LTB4 could be detected in the aqueous humor of patients with senile cataract and to assess the role of LTB4 in the development of this type of cataract. PATIENTS AND METHODS Leukotriene B4 was measured in the aqueous humor of three patients with senile cataract using radioimmunoassay. All patients gave informed consent before entering the study. The details of the preparations for measuring LTBt in aqueous humor have been previously described. 1 Briefly, 0.5 ml of intraocular fluid was Address correspondence to: Kunihiko Shindo, M.D., PhD., First Department of Internal Medicine, Yoko-
hama City University School of Medicine, 3-9, Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 239, Japan. Received for publication on February 16, 1993. Printed in the U.S.A. Reproduction in whole or part is not permitted.
325
0011-393X/93/$3.50
LEUKOTRIENE B4 IN AQUEOUS HUMOR
drawn and immediately placed in ice. After centrifugation at 1500 g for 30 minutes, the supernatant was kept frozen at - 7 0 °C until analysis for LTB4 was made. A commercially available radioimmunoassay for LTB 4 (LTB 4 3H assay reagents system, Amersham Corp.) was obtained from New England Nuclear (Wilmington, Delaware) and was used as described by the manufacturer. The amount of LTB 4 from the patients with senile cataract was compared with that from patients with diabetic cataract and control subjects 2 using the unpaired Student's t test. RESULTS
The mean level of LTB 4 in the three patients with senile cataract was 0.70 + 0.03 pmol/ml (table). The mean LTB4 levels of the four patients with diabetic cataract and the three control subjects were 0.78 -+ 0.15 pmol/ml and 0.63 -+ 0.13, respectively. 2 There was no significant difference between the three patients with senile cataract and the other two groups. DISCUSSION
We were able to detect LTB 4 in the aqueous humor of patients with senile cataract. However, the amount of LTB 4 detected in these patients did not differ significantly from that detected in patients with diabetic cataract and in healthy controls. Some authors have reported the role of LTB 4 in chronic conditions such as psoriasis, 3 rheumatoid arthritis, 4 ulcerative colitis, ~ bronchial Table. Mean levels of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in patients with senile or diabetic cataract and in healthy control subjects. 2
Age Control subjects 1 2 3 Mean - SD Patients with senile cataract 1 2 3 Mean - SD Patients with diabetic cataract 1 2 3 4 Mean - SD
Sex
LTB4 Level (pmol/ml)
36 40 26
Male Male
Male
0.51 0.61 0.77 0.63 - 0.13
72 74 75
Male Male Male
0.67 0.71 0.73 0.70 - 0.03
60 72 68 71
Male Male Male Female
0.78 0.95 0.82 0.58 0.78 _+ 0.15
326
K. SHINDO AND M. TANAKA
a s t h m a , 6 a n d u v e i t i s . 7's H o w e v e r , w e w e r e u n a b l e t o l o c a t e a n y r e p o r t s o n the levels of LTB 4 in the aqueous humor of patients with senile cataract. Our results indicate that LTB t does not play a role in the development of senile cataract. A l t h o u g h i t i s d i f f i c u l t to o b t a i n , m o r e s a m p l e s o f a q u e o u s h u m o r a r e needed to determine the true role of LTBt in senile cataract. References:
1. Shindo K, Matsumoto Y, Hirai Y, et al. Measurement of leukotriene B4 in arterial blood of asthmatic patients during wheezing attacks. J Intern Med 1990; 228:91-96. 2. Shindo K, Tanaka M. Leukotriene B4 levels in the aqueous humor of patients with diabetic cataract. Curr Ther Res 1993; 53(2):212-214. 3. Brain SD, Camp RDR, Dowd RM, et al. Psoriasis and leukotriene B4. Lancet 1982; 2: 762-763. 4. Klickstein LB, Shapleigh C, Goetzl EJ. Lipoxygenation of arachidonic acid as a source of polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotactic factors in synovial fluid and tissue in rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis. J Clin Invest 1980; 66:1166-1170. 5. Sharon P, Stenson WF. Production of leukotrienes by colonic mucosa from patients with inflammatory bowel disease. (Abstract) Gastroenterology 1983; 84:1306. 6. Dahlen S, Hansson G, Hedquist P. Allergen challenge of lung tissues from asthmatics elicits bronchial contraction that correlates with the release of leukotriene C4, D4, and E4. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1983; 80:1712-1716. 7. Parker JA, Goetzl EJ, Friedlaender MH. Leukotrienes in the aqueous humor of patients with uveitis. Arch Ophthalmol 1986; 104:722-724. 8. Alfaro DV. Leukotrienes in aqueous humor of patients with uveitis. (Letter) Arch Ophthalmol 1987; 105:457.
327
ABSTRACT L e u k o t r i e n e B 4 (LTB 4) levels in the aqueous humor of three patients
with senile cataract were measured using radioimmunoassay. The mean LTB4 level in the patients with senile cataract was 0.70 - 0.03 pmol/ml, compared with levels of 0.78 -+ 0.15 pmol/ml in patients with diabetic cataract and 0.63 - 0.13 pmol/ml in healthy subjects. The difference between groups was not significant. We conclude that LTB4 is not associated with the development of senile cataract.
INTRODUCTION Leukotriene B 4 (LTB 4) is one of the chemical mediators involved with inflammation. Its bioavailability is based on an ability to permeate the vasculature and on chemotaxis. However, data concerning LTB4 levels in h u m a n ocular tissues are insufficient. One reason for this lack of data is the difficulty of obtaining large amounts of aqueous humor from ocular tissue. Another reason is t h a t there are few chances for obtaining samples from h e a l t h y ocular tissue. The aim of this study was to determine whether LTB4 could be detected in the aqueous humor of patients with senile cataract and to assess the role of LTB4 in the development of this type of cataract. PATIENTS AND METHODS Leukotriene B4 was measured in the aqueous humor of three patients with senile cataract using radioimmunoassay. All patients gave informed consent before entering the study. The details of the preparations for measuring LTBt in aqueous humor have been previously described. 1 Briefly, 0.5 ml of intraocular fluid was Address correspondence to: Kunihiko Shindo, M.D., PhD., First Department of Internal Medicine, Yoko-
hama City University School of Medicine, 3-9, Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 239, Japan. Received for publication on February 16, 1993. Printed in the U.S.A. Reproduction in whole or part is not permitted.
325
0011-393X/93/$3.50
LEUKOTRIENE B4 IN AQUEOUS HUMOR
drawn and immediately placed in ice. After centrifugation at 1500 g for 30 minutes, the supernatant was kept frozen at - 7 0 °C until analysis for LTB4 was made. A commercially available radioimmunoassay for LTB 4 (LTB 4 3H assay reagents system, Amersham Corp.) was obtained from New England Nuclear (Wilmington, Delaware) and was used as described by the manufacturer. The amount of LTB 4 from the patients with senile cataract was compared with that from patients with diabetic cataract and control subjects 2 using the unpaired Student's t test. RESULTS
The mean level of LTB 4 in the three patients with senile cataract was 0.70 + 0.03 pmol/ml (table). The mean LTB4 levels of the four patients with diabetic cataract and the three control subjects were 0.78 -+ 0.15 pmol/ml and 0.63 -+ 0.13, respectively. 2 There was no significant difference between the three patients with senile cataract and the other two groups. DISCUSSION
We were able to detect LTB 4 in the aqueous humor of patients with senile cataract. However, the amount of LTB 4 detected in these patients did not differ significantly from that detected in patients with diabetic cataract and in healthy controls. Some authors have reported the role of LTB 4 in chronic conditions such as psoriasis, 3 rheumatoid arthritis, 4 ulcerative colitis, ~ bronchial Table. Mean levels of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in patients with senile or diabetic cataract and in healthy control subjects. 2
Age Control subjects 1 2 3 Mean - SD Patients with senile cataract 1 2 3 Mean - SD Patients with diabetic cataract 1 2 3 4 Mean - SD
Sex
LTB4 Level (pmol/ml)
36 40 26
Male Male
Male
0.51 0.61 0.77 0.63 - 0.13
72 74 75
Male Male Male
0.67 0.71 0.73 0.70 - 0.03
60 72 68 71
Male Male Male Female
0.78 0.95 0.82 0.58 0.78 _+ 0.15
326
K. SHINDO AND M. TANAKA
a s t h m a , 6 a n d u v e i t i s . 7's H o w e v e r , w e w e r e u n a b l e t o l o c a t e a n y r e p o r t s o n the levels of LTB 4 in the aqueous humor of patients with senile cataract. Our results indicate that LTB t does not play a role in the development of senile cataract. A l t h o u g h i t i s d i f f i c u l t to o b t a i n , m o r e s a m p l e s o f a q u e o u s h u m o r a r e needed to determine the true role of LTBt in senile cataract. References:
1. Shindo K, Matsumoto Y, Hirai Y, et al. Measurement of leukotriene B4 in arterial blood of asthmatic patients during wheezing attacks. J Intern Med 1990; 228:91-96. 2. Shindo K, Tanaka M. Leukotriene B4 levels in the aqueous humor of patients with diabetic cataract. Curr Ther Res 1993; 53(2):212-214. 3. Brain SD, Camp RDR, Dowd RM, et al. Psoriasis and leukotriene B4. Lancet 1982; 2: 762-763. 4. Klickstein LB, Shapleigh C, Goetzl EJ. Lipoxygenation of arachidonic acid as a source of polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotactic factors in synovial fluid and tissue in rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis. J Clin Invest 1980; 66:1166-1170. 5. Sharon P, Stenson WF. Production of leukotrienes by colonic mucosa from patients with inflammatory bowel disease. (Abstract) Gastroenterology 1983; 84:1306. 6. Dahlen S, Hansson G, Hedquist P. Allergen challenge of lung tissues from asthmatics elicits bronchial contraction that correlates with the release of leukotriene C4, D4, and E4. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1983; 80:1712-1716. 7. Parker JA, Goetzl EJ, Friedlaender MH. Leukotrienes in the aqueous humor of patients with uveitis. Arch Ophthalmol 1986; 104:722-724. 8. Alfaro DV. Leukotrienes in aqueous humor of patients with uveitis. (Letter) Arch Ophthalmol 1987; 105:457.
327