title: Role of transforming growth factor beta in conjunctival scarring.
abstract: Glaucoma is the major cause of irreversible blindness throughout the world. Of all of the treatments that are available at present, the most effective appears to be surgery; however, excessive conjunctival scarring can lead to surgical failure. In the last decade, the introduction of the anti-metabolites mitomycin-C and 5-fluorouracil as anti-scarring treatments have greatly improved the results of glaucoma surgery, but these agents are associated with complications that can potentially result in blindness. A possible target for a more physiological approach to anti-scarring is transforming growth factor beta. This review examines the role of transforming growth factor beta in conjunctival scarring and discusses promising new ways of modifying its activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Moorfields Eye Hospital and Institute of Ophthalmology, Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK. m.cordeiro@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: M Francesca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Cordeiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018463:Filtering Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta