The Differential Expression of Cytokines and Growth Factors After SMILE Compared With FS-LASIK in Rabbits.
Liu Lingjia, Cheng Wenbo, Wu Di, Chen Luxia, Yu Shasha, Zuo Tong, Zhang Lin, Yang Kun, Li Hua, Zhang Hui
AI Summary
Rabbit study showed SMILE caused less acute inflammation (IL-1β, TNF-α) than FS-LASIK. Differential TGF-β1/BFGF expression may explain SMILE's slower recovery, highlighting post-op treatment needs.
Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the differential expression of cytokines and growth factors in the cornea and aqueous humor after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) compared with femtosecond LASIK (FS-LASIK) using rabbit model.
Methods
Sixteen eyes of 16 rabbits in each group underwent SMILE or FS-LASIK with refractive correction of -6.00 DS/-1.00 DC. Eight additional rabbits served as controls. Pre- and 24 hours, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively, slit-lamp and anterior segment optical coherence tomography were performed, followed by cornea and aqueous humor collection. Apoptosis and proliferation were evaluated with TUNEL assay and Ki-67 immunostaining, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression of cytokines and growth factors was determined by RT-qPCR and Western blotting, respectively. Cytokine levels in the aqueous humor were detected with ELISA.
Results
Compared with FS-LASIK, SMILE induced less apoptosis and proliferation in the cornea within 1 week postoperatively. Levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and EGFR in the cornea were significantly increased after FS-LASIK compared with SMILE within 24 hours. Levels of IL-8 in the aqueous humor remained elevated until 1 week after FS-LASIK but not SMILE. TGF-β1 level was elevated up to 1 month after both procedures, while BFGF level was kept high within 1 month after SMILE but not FS-LASIK.
Conclusions
SMILE could induce significantly less acute inflammation than FS-LASIK in the cornea and aqueous humor. The differential expression of TGF-β1 and BFGF between two procedures until 1 month might contribute to the post-SMILE delayed recovery and underline the importance of continued treatment postoperatively.
MeSH Terms
Shields Classification
Key Concepts6
Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) induced less apoptosis and proliferation in the cornea within 1 week postoperatively compared with femtosecond LASIK (FS-LASIK) in a rabbit model.
Levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and EGFR in the cornea were significantly increased after femtosecond LASIK (FS-LASIK) compared with small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) within 24 hours postoperatively in a rabbit model.
Levels of IL-8 in the aqueous humor remained elevated until 1 week after femtosecond LASIK (FS-LASIK) but not small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) in a rabbit model.
TGF-β1 level was elevated up to 1 month after both small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and femtosecond LASIK (FS-LASIK) procedures in a rabbit model.
BFGF level was kept high within 1 month after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) but not femtosecond LASIK (FS-LASIK) in a rabbit model.
Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) could induce significantly less acute inflammation than femtosecond LASIK (FS-LASIK) in the cornea and aqueous humor in a rabbit model.
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