title: Current understanding of conventional outflow dysfunction in glaucoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Regulation of intraocular pressure by the conventional (trabecular) outflow pathway is complicated, involving a myriad of mechanical and chemical signals. In most, intraocular pressure is maintained within a tight range over a lifetime. Unfortunately in some, dysfunction results in ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma. In the context of established knowledge, this review summarizes recent investigations of conventional outflow function, with the goal of identifying areas for future inquiry and therapeutic targeting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mechanical stimulation of conventional outflow cells due to intraocular pressure fluctuations impacts contractility, gene expression, pore formation, enzyme activity, and signaling. Numerous local signaling mediators in the conventional pathway such as bioactive lipids, cytokines, nitric oxide, and nucleotides participate in the regulation of outflow. Interestingly outflow through the conventional pathway is not uniform, but segmental, with passageways constantly changing due to focal protease activity of trabecular cells clearing extracellular matrix materials. The relationship between extracellular matrix expression and trabecular meshwork contractility appears to coordinately impact outflow resistance and is the target of a new class of drugs, the Rho kinase inhibitors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The conventional outflow pathway is a dynamic, pressure-sensitive tissue that is vulnerable to pathology on many fronts, each representing a therapeutic opportunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. dan.stamer@duke.edu
authors.forename: W Daniel
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Stamer
authors.forename: Ted S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Acott
mesh_terms: D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000378:metabolism*