title: The Role of the Immune System in Glaucoma: Bridging the Divide Between Immune Mechanisms in Experimental Glaucoma and the Human Disease.
abstract: Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of visual impairment worldwide. Classically, clinicians have evaluated patients through a full ophthalmological examination including gonioscopy, measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP), and assessment of the optic nerve. New imaging modalities have further enhanced our ability to evaluate glaucoma; however, our treatments have not evolved as much. Whether one uses medical treatment with topical ocular antihypertensives, laser trabeculoplasty, or filtering surgery, the mainstay of treatment is to lower IOP. However, as our understanding of the disease evolves, mechanisms other than elevated IOP have been implicated in glaucoma pathogenesis. Recent animal model studies have shown a possible role of the immune system in the pathophysiology of glaucoma. This article explores the current understanding of immune reactions in glaucoma, which could lead to a new paradigm of treatment for human disease.
authors.affiliation: a Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts , USA .
authors.forename: Shivani S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kamat
authors.affiliation: b Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts , USA , and.
authors.forename: Meredith S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.affiliation: a Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts , USA .|c Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Louis R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Pasquale
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology*; D007429:Intraocular Pressure
keywords: Glaucoma; TNF alpha; adaptive immunity; innate immunity