AUTHOR=Matas Jessica , Llorenç Victor , Fonollosa Alex , Díaz-Valle David , Esquinas Cristina , de la Maza Maria Teresa Sainz , Figueras-Roca Marc , Artaraz Joseba , Berasategui Barbara , Mesquida Marina , Adán Alfredo , Molins Blanca 

TITLE=Systemic Regulatory T Cells and IL-6 as Prognostic Factors for Anatomical Improvement of Uveitic Macular Edema

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.579005

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2020.579005

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=Purpose: To investigate whether systemic immune mediators and circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs) could be prognostic factors for anatomic outcomes in macular edema secondary to non-infectious uveitis (UME). 
Methods: Multicenter, prospective, observational, 12-month follow-up study of 60 patients with UME. Macular edema was defined as central subfield thickness (CST) >300 μm measured with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Serum samples and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained from venous blood extraction at baseline. Serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, MCP-1, TNF-, IL-10, and VEGF were determined by Luminex. Tregs population, defined as CD3+CD4+FoxP3+ in PBMC, was determined by flow cytometry. Main outcome measure was the predictive association between searched mediators and CST sustained improvement, defined as CST < 300 microns or a 20% CST decrease, at 6 months maintained until 12-months compared to baseline levels.
Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed an association between CST sustained improvement at 12 months follow-up and IL-6 and Tregs baseline levels. Higher IL-6 levels were associated with less events of UME improvement (OR: 0.67; CI 95% (0.45-1.00); p = 0.042), whereas higher levels of Tregs favored such improvement (OR: 1.25, C I95%, 1.12-2.56, p = 0.049). 
Conclusions: Increased levels of Tregs and reduced levels of IL-6 in serum may be prognostic factors of sustained anatomical improvement in UME. These findings could enforce the opportunity to develop more efficient and personalized therapeutic approaches to improve long-term visual prognosis in patients with UME.