Interleukin-33 and interleukin-10 expression in proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy is associated with immune dysregulation driven by chronic hyperglycemia. The role of cytokine balance in its progression remains incompletely understood. To evaluate IL-33 and IL-10 levels and their ratios in patients with diabetic retinopathy depending on disease stage and metabolic control. Patients with proliferative and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy were stratified by compensated and decompensated diabetes. IL-33 and IL-10 concentrations were measured by ELISA, and IL-33/IL-10 and IL-10/IL-33 ratios were calculated. IL-33 levels did not differ significantly between groups (p>0.05), although a decreasing trend was observed in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy with compensated diabetes. IL-10 levels were significantly higher in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy compared with proliferative (p<0.05). The IL-33/IL-10 ratio was increased in proliferative, indicating higher pro-inflammatory potential, while it was reduced in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy with decompensated diabetes. Conversely, the IL-10/IL-33 ratio was elevated in decompensated diabetes regardless of retinopathy stage (p<0.05). Cytokine balance between IL-33 and IL-10 depends on both disease stage and metabolic control. IL-10 may exhibit context-dependent pro-inflammatory effects in decompensated diabetes. Cytokine ratios may serve as potential biomarkers of immune dysregulation in diabetic retinopathy.