title: Glaucomatous outflow pathway and oxidative stress.
abstract: Oxidative free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are able to affect the cellularity of the human trabecular meshwork (HTM). These findings suggest that intraocular pressure increase, which characterises most glaucomas, is related to oxidative degenerative processes affecting the HTM and specifically its endothelial cells. Much evidence indicates that in this region ROS play a fundamental pathogenic role by reducing local antioxidant activities, inducing outflow resistance and exacerbating the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in glaucomatous eyes. Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide induces rearrangement of HTM cells and compromises their integrity. Glaucomatous subjects might have a genetic predisposition rendering them more susceptible to ROS-induced damage. A fairly significant correlation between oxidative DNA damage in the HTM and intraocular pressure increase and visual field defects in glaucomatous patients has been demonstrated. Thus, oxidative stress may play a significant role during glaucoma course initially damaging HTM cells, then contributing to the alteration of the homeostasis between NO and endothelins, and finally through its possible involvement in ganglional cell death. On the whole, these findings support the hypothesis that oxidative damage is an important step in the pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma, and might be a relevant target for both prevention and therapy.
authors.affiliation: San Martino Hospital, Section of Ophthalmology, Largo Rosanna Benzi 1, 16132 Genova, Italy. sergio.sacca@hsanmartino.it
authors.forename: Sergio Claudio
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Saccà
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Izzotti
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Traverso
mesh_terms: D004249:DNA Damage; D016232:Endothelins / Q000378:metabolism; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D009569:Nitric Oxide