Patients with primary glaucoma may exhibit significantly lower levels of endogenous intraocular interferon beta (IFN-β) compared to individuals without the disease, according to a study published this week in the Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

The study was conducted by researchers from the department of ophthalmology at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, and led by first author Jost Lennart Lauermann. The investigators aimed to evaluate levels of endogenous IFN-β in patients with either primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), using aqueous humor samples collected during routine intraocular surgery.

A total of 52 patients were enrolled, including 30 with POAG, 8 with PACG, and 14 control patients without glaucoma. IFN-β concentrations in aqueous humor were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in IFN-β levels in both POAG and PACG groups compared to controls. Median IFN-β concentrations were 9.6 pg/mL in POAG, 6.9 pg/mL in PACG, and 17.9 pg/mL in the control group. This reduction was consistent across glaucoma subtypes.

No significant associations were observed between intraocular pressure, visual field parameters, or retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and the level of IFN-β in aqueous humor.

The authors concluded that these findings support the role of neuroinflammation in primary glaucomatous disease processes and suggest that IFN-β may be involved in modulating inflammatory responses or neuroprotective mechanisms in the eye. Further research is needed to clarify the functional implications of IFN-β deficiency in glaucoma and whether modulation of this cytokine could have therapeutic potential. GP