The study was conducted to observe the serum and vitreous levels of LXA₄, BDNF and Th1/Th2 cytokines in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and changes associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Further, the in vitro study was performed to analyze the exposure of BDNF and LXA₄ on LPS-induced pro-inflammatory state in ARPE 19 cells.

Totally 114 individuals were recruited in a prospective case control study. Of these, 27 were type 2 DM cases with no complications, 30 cases were type 2 DM with non proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), 30 were type 2 DM with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and 27 were healthy control. ELISA was done to estimate the serum and vitreous levels of BDNF, VEGF and PEDF. FACS cytometric Bead Array system was used to analyze the serum cytokines.

The serum BDNF and LXA₄ levels were significantly reduced in both NPDR and PDR cases compared to control (p = 0.005, 0.01; p = 0.033, 0.015). Serum IL-6 was significantly increased in the PDR group (p = 0.04). BDNF showed a significant negative correlation with VEGF levels (r = − 0.522, p < 0.01) and positive correlation with IL-10 (r = 0.67, p < 0.05) in serum. A significant odds ratio for the serum BDNF (OR: 3.20, p = 0.025) as well as serum IL-6 (OR: 1.244, p = 0.042) indicated them as potential risk factors for progression of type 2 DM to DR. A significant decrease in both the LXA₄ (p = 0.013) and BDNF (p = 0.0008) with increase in cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 levels were observed in the vitreous of PDR cases ((p = 0.04, 0.01). In vitro studies showed that both LXA₄ (10 nmol/L) and BDNF (500 pg) decreased the IL-6 levels (p = 0.036, 0.0002), in LPS induced pro-inflammatory condition in ARPE 19 cells, thereby their anti-inflammatory effect.

This study reports that low serum BDNF and higher IL-6 levels are potential risk factors for DR in type 2 DM. This study supports the role of BDNF in modulating the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and low level of BDNF is associated with development of diabetic retinopathy.