title: Neuroprotective therapies in glaucoma: I. Neurotrophic factor delivery.
abstract: Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative eye disease that causes permanent blindness at the progressive stage and the number of people affected worldwide is expected to reach over 79 million by 2020. Currently, glaucoma management relies on pharmacological and invasive surgical treatments mainly by reducing the intraocular pressure (IOP), which is the most important risk factor for the progression of the visual field loss. Recent research suggests that neuroprotective or neuroregenerative approaches are necessary to prevent retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) loss and visual impairment over time. Neuroprotection is a new therapeutic strategy that attempts to keep RGCs alive and functional. New gene and cell therapeutics encoding neurotrophic factors (NTFs) are emerging for both neuroprotection and regenerative treatments for retinal diseases. This article briefly reviews the role of NTFs in glaucoma and the potential delivery systems.
authors: School of Pharmacy and Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Nafiseh
authors: N
authors: Nafissi
authors: School of Pharmacy and Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Marianna
authors: M
authors: Foldvari
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents