AIM: To study the changes of serum IL-35 and TGF-β₁ expression levels and the correlation between them in patients with acute anterior uveitis, and to explore the clinical significance of IL-35 and TGF-β₁ levels in patients with acute anterior uveitis.

METHODS: Thirty patients with acute anterior uveitis confirmed in the Department of Ophthalmology of Gansu Provincial Hospital into 2018-05/2019-05 were selected as the case group, and thirty healthy patients who received physical examination at the Gansu Provincial Hospital during the same period were selected as the control group. Serum IL-35 and TGF-β₁ expression levels between the two groups were detected by Elisa. Modified endotoxin-induced uveitis(EIU)clinical standard was used for the severity of acute anterior uveitis.

RESULTS: Serum IL-35 and TGF-β₁ expression levels in the acute anterior uveitis group were significantly higher than that in the healthy control group(all P<0.05), and there was no significant correlation between serum IL-35 and TGF-β₁ levels as well as the severity of acute anterior uveitis(r_s=0.087, 0.044, all P>0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between serum IL-35 and TGF-β₁ expression levels in patients with acute anterior uveitis(r_s=0.637, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: The expression levels of IL-35 and TGF-β₁ in serum are closely related to the occurrence and development of acute anterior uveitis and may play a synergistic role in immunosuppression in acute anterior uveitis.