Purpose. This study aimed to determine the dynamic changes of NF‐κB‐related microRNAs (miRNAs) and cytokines over the course of experimental autoimmune anterior uveitis (EAAU) and elucidate the possible immunopathogenesis. Materials and Methods. Uveitis was induced in Lewis rats using bovine melanin‐associated antigen. The inflammatory activity of the anterior chamber was clinically scored, and leukocytes in the aqueous humor were quantified. RNA was extracted from the iris/ciliary bodies and popliteal lymph nodes to reveal the dynamic changes of eight target miRNAs (miR‐155‐5p, miR‐146a‐5p, miR‐182‐5p, miR‐183‐5p, miR‐147b, miR‐21‐5p, miR‐9‐3p, and miR‐223‐3p) and six cytokine mRNAs (IFN‐γ, IL‐17, IL‐12A, IL‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐10). In situ hybridization of miRNA and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay quantification of cytokines were performed to confirm the results. Results. Disease activity and leukocyte quantification were maximum at day 15 after immunization. The profiling of miRNA revealed downregulation of miR‐146a‐5p, miR‐155‐5p, miR‐223‐3p, and miR‐147b and upregulation of miR‐182‐5p, miR‐183‐5p, and miR‐9‐3p. Cytokine analysis revealed IFN‐γ, IL‐17, IL‐12A, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 overexpression, with IL‐10 downregulation. Conclusions. Dynamic changes of miRNAs were observed over the course of EAAU. By initiating NF‐κB signaling, the expressions of downstream cytokines and effector cells from the Th17 and Th1 lineages were sequentially activated, contributing to the disease.

Purpose. This study aimed to determine the effect and roles of microRNA (miRNA, miR) treatment in experimental autoimmune anterior uveitis (EAAU). Materials and Methods. Uveitis was induced in Lewis rats by simultaneous injections of bovine melanin-associated antigen into the hind footpad and the intraperitoneal cavity. The animals were injected intravitreally with low-dose (0.5 μg) or high-dose (1.5 μg) miR-146a. The clinical scores, leukocyte count in the aqueous humor, and histology were assessed. Cytokine changes were evaluated by relative mRNA expression and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) was assessed by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Evaluation of the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB was performed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Results. Treatment with miR-146a significantly attenuated clinical scores and leukocyte infiltration in a dose-dependent manner, a result that was compatible with histological findings. Following miR-146a injections, downregulation of interleukin- (IL-) 1β, IL-6, and IL-12 and interferon- (IFN-) γ and upregulation of IL-10 and IL-17 were noted. The decreased NF-κB expression on immunofluorescence and Western blotting and reduced DNA-binding activity on EMSA were demonstrated following miR-146a treatment. Conclusions. miR-146a effectively reduced intraocular inflammation in EAAU through the inhibition of NF-κB. miR-146a might be a new treatment choice for uveitis.

To investigate the epidemiological and clinical profiles in retinal vasculitis in an Asian cohort. A 5-year retrospective study of 487 uveitis patients in a tertiary referral center at northern Tai...

The authors performed a retrospective and comparative study to compare the efficacy of intravitreal aflibercept and bevacizumab for patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV). The patients with treatment-naïve mCNV received 1 + PRN intravitreal bevacizumab from March 2008 to February 2013, while from March 2013 to July 2016 patients were treated by 1 + PRN intravitreal aflibercept, all with monthly follow-up for 12 months. Primary outcome measures included change in central foveal thickness (CFT) in 1 mm by spectral-domain optic coherence tomography, and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at month 12. Complications after injections were recorded. The intra-group changes in CFT and BCVA were compared with Wilcoxon signed rank test, the between-group difference compared with Wilcoxon rank sum test. Fisher’s exact test was used for categorical comparison between groups. Seventy-eight eyes of 78 patients were collected. There were 42 eyes in bevacizumab group, with mean age of 53.2 ± 5.4 years and 27 female patients of them. The mean BCVA significantly improved from baseline 0.56 ± 0.35 logMAR to 0.35 ± 0.35 logMAR at Month 12 after bevacizumab treatment (p < 0.001). The mean CFT significantly decreased from baseline 315.3 ± 25.6 μm to 253.7 ± 24.4 μm at Month 12 following intravitreal bevacizumab (p < 0.001). There were 36 eyes in aflibercept group, with mean age of 52.8 ± 6.8 years and 24 female patients of them. The mean BCVA significantly improved from baseline 0.61 ± 0.47 logMAR to 0.38 ± 0.41 logMAR at Month 12 after aflibercept treatment (p < 0.001). The mean CFT significantly decreased from baseline 328.2 ± 19.8 μm to 241.8 ± 27.2 μm at Month 12 following intravitreal aflibercept (p < 0.001). The baseline demographics, lens status, axial length, refractive errors, duration of symptoms, BCVA, and CFT did not differ significantly between groups (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference between bevacizumab and aflibercept groups in BCVA and CFT from Month 1 to Month 12 (p > 0.05). Injection number of aflibercept was 2.11 ± 0.41, less than that of bevacizumab (3.23 ± 0.38) during 12-month period (p = 0.01). There were no systemic thromboembolic event, elevated intraocular pressure, retinal detachment, or infectious endophthalmitis following injections in both groups. We concluded that both aflibercept and bevacizumab can effectively treat choroidal neovascularization in high myopes. Intravitreal aflibercept had similar efficacy but less treatment number than bevacizumab for mCNV during 12-month period.