IL-6, IL-8 are potential diagnostic biomarkers for DED in patients with type 2 diabetes

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) may serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers for dry eye disease (DED) in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to a study.

The study found that the concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 in tears were significantly higher in T2D patients with DED compared to other groups. These biomarkers were also correlated with clinical signs of DED, such as corneal fluorescein staining. Furthermore, the T2D + DED group had a higher prevalence of moderate and severe DED, suggesting a distinct underlying mechanism for DED in T2D compared to DED-only cases.

These findings highlight the potential significance of IL-6 and IL-8 in diagnosing and understanding DED in individuals with T2D, paving the way for future research and targeted therapies.

Reference
Byambajav M, Collier A, Shu X, et al. Tear Fluid Biomarkers and Quality of Life in People with Type 2 Diabetes and Dry Eye Disease. Metabolites. 2023;13(6):733. doi: 10.3390/metabo13060733. PMID: 37367891.