To investigate the expression of CCL4/MIP-1β in tears of patients with dry eye syndrome and its correlation with the tear surface parameters.

Forty patients with dry eye syndrome (seven Meibomian gland dysfunction and 33 non-Meibomian gland dysfunction patients) and 25 control subjects were recruited. The concentrations of CCL4 in tears were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The correlations between CCL4 levels and tear surface parameters including tear film break-up time (BUT), basal tear secretion (BST), tear clearance test (TCR), corneal sensation, keratoepitheliopathy (KEP) and conjunctival goblet cell density (GCD) were analyzed in patients with dry eye syndrome.

The mean levels of MIP-1β were 4.3±5.2 pg/ml in patients with dry eye syndrome and 81.6±294.3 pg/ml in control subjects ( p =0.03). The mean levels in non-Meibomian gland disease patients (90.4±313.9 pg/ml) were significantly higher than those of Meibomian gland dysfunction patients (20.3±23.2 pg/ml, p =0.02). CCL4 levels correlated significantly with BST, TCR, KEP and GCD ( p <0.05).

The level of MIP-1β is elevated in tears of patients with dry eye syndrome and correlates with disease severity and tear surface parameters.