AIM:To investigate the dynamic expression characteristics of interleukin-10(IL-10)after implantation of glaucoma drainage material, and to reveal the role of IL-10 on scarring formation.

METHODS:Totally 75 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups, which were implanted with different types of material-Polymethyl methacrylate coated Parylene C(PMMA group), silicone together with injection of Mitomycin C(MMC)(silicon-MMC group)and silicone(silicone group). Aqueous humor were collected at 1, 3d, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8wk after operation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)were utilized to detect the expression of IL-10 in the aqueous humor. The connective tissue surrounding the material were collected at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8wk postoperatively. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was applied to evaluate the proliferation of fibroblasts and the infiltration of inflammatory cells. The protein expression and mRNA of IL-10 in the connective tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR.

RESULTS:Compared with PMMA and silicon-MMC group, silicone group showed significantly increased proliferation of fibroblasts and infiltration of inflammatory cells according to the HE staining result. The result of ELISA showed the expression of IL-10 in the aqueous humor increased significantly at the early stage after surgery, and then decreased gradually,the highest appeared on the third day after operation,and in silicone group there was higher than the other two groups in the early stage postoperatively(1d-3wk)(all P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the late stages(4-8wk). The protein expression and mRNA of IL-10 in connective tissue were the highest in the first week after operation, decreased gradually at 2-3wk after operation, and increased again at 4-8wk after operation by immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. And the expression was higher in silicone group than in the other two groups at each time point(all P<0.05). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the expression of IL-10 protein and the proliferation of fibroblasts in the late stages(4-8wk).

CONCLUSION: After implantation of glaucoma drainage material, the process of IL-10 increased first, then decreased gradually, and increased again 4wk later, thus IL-10 may be a potential target for inhibiting the scar formation.