title: Nitric oxide and tumour necrosis factor alpha in the process of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the role of nitric oxide (NO), ascorbic acid and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the pathogenesis of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (XFG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study included 120 patients who were referred for cataract surgery. All patients were divided into four groups according to clinical findings: XFG, early and late pseudoexfoliation syndrome (XFS), and cataract (without pseudoexfoliation). Serum and aqueous humour levels of the ascorbic acid, NO and TNF-α were measured. The concentrations of the ascorbic acid and NO were measured by an appropriate spectrophotometric method. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine TNF-α level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aqueous humour concentration of ascorbic acid was significantly lower in patients with late XFS (0.61±0.11 mmol/L) and XFG (0.48±0.15 mmol/L) compared to patients with early XFS (0.9±0.15 mmol/L) and cataract (1.16±0.22 mmol/L), while there was no difference in serum concentration in all examined groups. Aqueous humour concentration of NO was significantly higher in patients with XFG (77.7±11.4 µmol/L) compared to patients with early XFS (50.27±9.34 µmol/L) and cataract (49.77±7.1 µmol/L), while serum concentration was increased in the early stage of XFS (73.26±8.29 µmol/L). Aqueous humour level of proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α was increased in patients with XFS (early 460.04±18.32 pg/mL; late 502.42±53.23 pg/mL) and XFG (510.34±43.07 pg/mL), while there was no difference in serum level in all examined groups of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced ascorbic acid and elevated NO and inflammation related cytokine TNF-α level in aqueous humour of the patients with developed XFG suggest that oxidative stress induces local inflammation.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Center Kragujevac, Zmaj Jovina 30, Kragujevac 34000, Serbia.
authors: Tatjana S
authors: TS
authors: Sarenac Vulovic
authors: Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac 34000, Serbia.
authors: Sladjana M
authors: SM
authors: Pavlovic
authors: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovica 69, Kragujevac 34000, Serbia.
authors: Vladimir Lj
authors: VLj
authors: Jakovljevic
authors: Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovica 69, Kragujevac 34000, Serbia.
authors: Katarina B
authors: KB
authors: Janicijevic
authors: Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac 34000, Serbia.
authors: Nemanja S
authors: NS
authors: Zdravkovic
keywords: ascorbic acid; nitric oxide; pseudoexfoliation; tumour necrosis factor alpha