AIM: To investigate the correlation between NLRP3 inflammation and optic nerve injury in primary open-angle glaucoma(POAG).

METHODS: Totally 65 POAG patients(98 eyes)in our hospital from May 2016 to May 2017 were selected, meanwhile 30 cataract patients(49 eyes)were as control group. Visual impairment was judged according to the mean defect value(MD)and divided into mild(group A), moderate(group B)and severe(group C)groups. The quality of IL-1β and IL-18 in plasma was detected by ELISA, and proportion of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 positive macrophages was measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: The levels of IL-1β and IL-18 and the proportion of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 positive cells in POAG group were obviously higher than those in control group(P<0.05). The levels of IL-1β and IL-18 and the proportion of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 positive cells in group C were highest in subgroups(P<0.05). The serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in POAG patients were positively correlated with visual field injury(r=0.432, 0.765), and the proportion of positive cells of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 was positively correlated with visual field injury(r=0.517, 0.481, 0.340).

CONCLUSION: Serum levels of IL-1β, IL-18 and the proportion of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 positive macrophages are positively correlated with the degree of optic nerve injury in POAG patients.