Evaluation of serum semaphorin 3A and interleukin 6 levels in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate serum semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS) patients to determine whether these mediators play a role in the systemic manifestations of PXS. Methods: This prospective case–control study included 70 patients divided into PXS (n = 30) and a control group (n = 40). Serum Sema3A and IL-6 levels were analyzed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The PXS group had a statistically higher IL-6 level [3.6(0.64–100) pg/mL], compared to the control group [2.1(0.41–39.93) pg/mL] (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the Sema3A level of the PXS group was lower at [21.55(13.2–67.5) ng/mL] compared to the control group at [29.05(11.5–103.3) ng/mL] (p < 0.05). In the PXS group, there was no correlation between the participants' IL-6 values and Sema3A, age, and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.153, 0.000, − 0.103, respectively, all, p > 0.05), and between Sema3A values and age and BMI values (r = 0.048, − 0.133, respectively, all, p > 0.05). In the control group, there was no correlation between the participants' IL-6 values and Sema3A, age, and BMI values (r = 0.138, − 0.001, − 0.145, respectively, all, p > 0.05) and between the Sema3A and age and BMI values (r = − 0.078, − 0.281, respectively, all, p > 0.05). Conclusions: Decreased levels of the anti-inflammatory mediator Sema3A and increased levels of inflammatory mediator IL-6 detected in PXS suggest that these molecules may play a role in systemic manifestations of this syndrome, such as inflammation, atherosclerosis, heart arrhythmia, and Alzheimer's disease.