IL-8 is a potential biomarker for retinal detachment secondary to choroidal melanoma

This study aims to identify potential biomarkers for retinal detachment secondary to choroidal melanoma (CM). Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis, immunohistochemistry, cell proliferation and migration assays, co-culture experiments involving human microglial cells (HMC3) and CM cells, and tube formation assay were employed to validate the role of IL-8 in retinal detachment secondary to choroidal melanoma. Mendelian randomisation analysis identified four inflammatory mediators causally linked to malignant melanoma progression: CDCP1 concentration ( P = 0.017, OR = 0.999, 95% CI [0.998–1.000]), CSF-1 concentration ( P = 0.020, OR = 1.002, 95% CI [1.000–1.003]), IL-10Rβ concentration ( P = 0.004, OR = 0.999, 95% CI [0.998–1.000]), IL-17C concentration ( P = 0.002, OR = 1.003, 95% CI [1.001–1.005]); Four inflammatory factors exhibited a causal relationship with retinal detachment progression: IL-15Rα concentration ( P = 0.029, OR = 1.001, 95% CI [1.000–1.001]), IL-2Rβ concentration ( P = 0.007, OR = 1.003, 95% CI [1.001–1.004]), IL-8 concentration ( P = 0.045, OR = 1.002, 95% CI [1.000–1.004]), TSLP concentration ( P = 0.028, OR = 1.002, 95% CI [1.000–1.004]). MR analysis indicated that genetically predicted IL-8 levels are associated with an increased risk of retinal detachment. IL-8 is highly expressed in CM tissues and promotes the proliferation of CM and HMC3 cells. It partially relieves the inhibitory effects mediated by the supernatant of HMC3 cells and promotes angiogenesis. IL-8 may be involved in CM-related inflammatory microenvironments and secondary exudative retinal detachment. It is a potential biomarker and provides a new target for targeted anti-inflammatory therapy and improved patient prognosis.