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Br J Ophthalmol 2000;84:1130-1134 doi:10.1136/bjo.84.10.1130
  • Original Article
    • Clinical science

Soluble Fas ligand and soluble Fas in ocular fluid of patients with uveitis

  1. Sunao Sugitaa,
  2. Chikako Taguchib,
  3. Hiroshi Takasea,
  4. Kimitaka Sagawad,
  5. Jun Suedab,
  6. Kunihiro Fukushib,
  7. Naofumi Hikitab,
  8. Toshiki Watanabee,
  9. Kyogo Itohc,
  10. Manabu Mochizukia
  1. aDepartment of Visual Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan, bDepartment of Ophthalmology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan, cDepartment of Immunology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan, dDepartment of Transfusion Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan, eDepartment of Pathology, the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
  1. Sunao Sugita, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyou-ku, Tokyo 113-0034, Japansunaoph{at}med.tmd.ac.jp
  • Accepted 13 April 2000

Abstract

AIMS To investigate the presence of soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) and soluble Fas (sFas) in ocular fluid of patients with uveitis.

METHODS Samples of aqueous humour (AH, n=17), vitreous fluid (n=9), and serum (n=60) were collected from patients with uveitis which included Behçet's disease, Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease, sarcoidosis, human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) uveitis, sympathetic ophthalmia, HLA-B27 associated acute anterior uveitis, and ocular toxoplasmosis. The AH of patients with age related cataract without uveitis obtained during cataract surgery was used as controls (n=20). The amounts of sFasL and sFas were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS Significant amounts of sFasL were detected in AH of patients with age related cataract (non-uveitis group). sFasL was also detected in AH of patients with uveitis, though the amounts were slightly lower than those in the non-uveitis group. On the other hand, the levels of sFas in AH of patients with uveitis were significantly higher than those in controls. As for the disease activity, the levels of sFasL and sFas in the vitreous fluid of patients with active uveitis were significantly higher than those in inactive uveitis. sFasL in the serum of healthy donors and patients with uveitis was below detectable levels, except for patients with HTLV-I uveitis who had significant amounts of sFasL in the serum. The levels of sFas in the serum of patients with Behçet's disease, sarcoidosis, and HTLV-I uveitis were significantly higher than those of healthy donors.

CONCLUSIONS sFasL is present in the AH of non-uveitic eyes with age related cataract. Intraocular levels of sFasL and sFas are significantly increased in uveitis, particularly in active uveitis. These data suggest that intraocular sFasL and sFas may have a regulatory role in uveitis.

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