Expression of CXCL9, -10, and -11 in the Aqueous Humor of Patients With Herpetic Endotheliitis

Purpose: To evaluate the expression of CXCL9, -10, and -11 chemokines in the aqueous humor of patients with herpetic endotheliitis. Methods: Aqueous humor was collected from 26 patients with herpetic endotheliitis and 21 control subjects. The concentrations of CXCL9, -10, and -11 in the aqueous humor were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The correlation between chemokine levels and clinical parameters of disease severity was analyzed. Flow cytometry was performed to count CXCR3(+) cells and CXCR3(+)CD4(+) cells in the aqueous humor. Results: The concentrations of CXCL9, -10, and -11 were 429.08 +/- 297.41 pg/mL, 23,102.49 +/- 15,964.95 pg/mL, and 258.25 +/- 103.25 pg/mL in patients with herpetic endotheliitis and 16.84 +/- 16.73 pg/mL (P < 0.01), 188.45 +/- 183.43 pg/mL (P < 0.01), and 7.32 +/- 6.45 pg/mL (P < 0.01) in control subjects, respectively. Aqueous chemokine levels correlated significantly with keratitic precipitates and corneal edema in patients with herpetic endotheliitis. The mean percentages of CXCR3(+) and CXCR3(+)CD4(+) cells were higher in herpetic endotheliitis patients compared with the controls. Conclusions: Expression of CXCL9, -10, and -11 chemokines and their receptor CXCR3 increases in the aqueous humor of patients with herpetic endotheliitis. Chemokine levels are associated with the clinical severity of the disease.