Innate Immunity Biomarkers for Early Detection of Keratoconus

• Published in: Ocular immunology and inflammation Vol. 27; no. 6; pp. 942 - 948
• Main Authors: Malfeito, Mercedes, Regueiro, Uxía, Pérez-Mato, María, Campos, Francisco, Sobrino, Tomás, Lema, Isabel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 18.08.2019
• Subjects: Adult; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - metabolism; Case-Control Studies; Conjunctiva - cytology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Early Diagnosis; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Epithelium, Corneal - metabolism; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Immunity, Innate - physiology; Innate immunity; Keratoconus - diagnosis; Keratoconus - immunology; Keratoconus - metabolism; Male; Prospective Studies; Toll-like receptor 2; Toll-Like Receptor 2 - metabolism; Toll-like receptor 4; Toll-Like Receptor 4 - metabolism; Unilateral keratoconus; Young Adult; Biomarkers; Innate immunity; Unilateral keratoconus; Toll-like receptor 2; Toll-like receptor 4
• ISSN: 0927-3948; 1744-5078; 1744-5078
• DOI: 10.1080/09273948.2018.1511813

Purpose: To compare toll-like receptors 2 (TLR2) and 4 (TLR4) expression in cells of corneal and conjunctival epithelium between unilateral KC patients and control subjects. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional case-control study, including 50 unilateral KC patients and 20 control subjects. TLR2 and TLR4 expression was measured with flow cytometry. Results: Mean expression of TLR2 and TLR4, in corneal and conjunctival cells, was significantly higher in KC than in subclinical and control groups (all p < 0.0001). TLR2 expression in corneal epithelial cells can predict with the highest sensitivity and specificity the probability of KC existence compared to a control (area under the curve 0.995, 95% CI: 0.987-1.000; p < 0.0001). Corneal TLR2 expression also has a predictive capacity to discriminate between subclinical KC and controls (area under the curve 0.989, 95% CI: 0.975-1.000; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: TLR2 and TLR4 expression in corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells may constitute predictive biomarkers for the early detection of KC.