title: Neurobiology of glaucomatous optic neuropathy: diverse cellular events in neurodegeneration and neuroprotection.
abstract: Although glaucomatous optic nerve degeneration is a leading cause of worldwide blindness, neither the precise cellular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in glaucoma, nor effective strategies for neuroprotection are yet clear. This review focuses on diverse cellular events associated with glaucomatous neurodegeneration whose balance is critical for determination of ultimate cell fate. An improved understanding of the site of primary injury to optic nerve, the mediator pathways of apoptotic cell death and intrinsic protection mechanisms in retinal ganglion cells, the role of glial activation on the survival and death of retinal ganglion cell bodies and their axons, and the protective and destructive consequences of immune system involvement can facilitate development of effective neuroprotective strategies in glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacia Corporation, St Louis, MO 63138, USA. martin.b.wax@pharmacia.com
authors.forename: Martin B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Wax
authors.forename: Gülgün
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tezel
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001284:Atrophy; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D020274:Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000473:pathology; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000473:pathology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology; D012183:Retrograde Degeneration / Q000209:etiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D005136:Eye Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase