Distribution and expression of transforming growth factor-beta and platelet-derived growth factor in the normal and glaucomatous monkey optic nerve heads.
OBJECTIVE
Remodeling of the extracellular matrix occurs in the lamina cribrosa in progressed glaucomatous optic nerve damage including disc cupping. We examined immunohistochemical changes in the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in the optic nerve head in an experimentally induced glaucoma model.


METHODS
We used 3 cynomolgus and 2 Japanese monkey eyes. Glaucoma was induced by repeated argon laser photocoagulation of the chamber angle. Eyes were enucleated after disc cupping had formed 3 to 5 months after photocoagulation. The optic nerve head was examined for expression of TGF-beta1, -beta2 and -beta3 and PDGF-A and -B in frozen sections and by the biotin ExtraAvidin-alkali phosphatase method.


RESULTS
Normal monkey eyes showed TGF-beta1, -beta2 and -beta3, and PDGF-A and -B in the optic nerve head including the nerve fibers, glial cells, and vascular cells. Glaucomatous eyes showed stronger expression of TGF-beta1 and -beta2 in the glial cells around the lamina cribrosa. The staining intensities for TGF-beta3, PDGF-A and -B were the same as in normal eyes.


CONCLUSIONS
Eyes with experimental glaucoma showed higher expression of TGF-beta1 and -beta2 around the lamina cribrosa. These findings may show upregulation of extracellular matrix production as related to remodeling of the lamina cribrosa in glaucoma.
Fukuchi
T
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan.
Ueda
J
J
Hanyu
T
T
Abe
H
H
Sawaguchi
S
S
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008251:Macaca; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta