Antiangiogenic characteristics of astrocytes from optic nerve heads with primary open-angle glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the angiogenic status of the human optic nerve head (ONH) with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).


METHODS
Using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, we analyzed the expression of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors in cultured ONH astrocytes from healthy donors and donors with POAG. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to localize those factors in human ONHs from healthy donors and donors with POAG. Cocultures of normal and POAG astrocytes with human umbilical vein endothelial cells were performed to obtain functional data on angiogenesis.


RESULTS
The ONH astrocytes from donors with POAG decreased expression of proangiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor C and platelet-derived growth factor A) and increased expression of antiangiogenic factors (collagen XVIII and ADAMTSL-3) when compared with normal ONH astrocytes. Vascular endothelial growth factor C and platelet-derived growth factor A were markedly reduced in the lamina cribrosa of the ONHs of donors with POAG. Endostatin immunolabeling increased in the lamina cribrosa of the ONHs of donors with POAG. When cocultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells, POAG astrocytes induced less tube formation than normal ONH astrocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
The ONH astrocytes from donors with POAG display antiangiogenic characteristics when compared with normal ONH astrocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
The study supports the clinical observation of decreased angiogenesis in patients with POAG.
Rudzinski
Marcelo N
MN
Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Chen
Lin
L
Hernandez
M Rosario
MR
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D042501:Angiogenic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D042501:Angiogenic Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger