Lijuan Xu, Yin Zhao, Xinyao Zhang, Xiaorui Gang, Jialing Han, Tao Zhou, Binyan Qi, Shuning Song, Ruiyi Ren, Yuanbo Liang
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: Continuous artificial aqueous humor drainage in the eyes of patients with glaucoma undergoing trabeculectomy likely exerts abnormal shear stress. However, it remains unknown how changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) can affect aqueous humor outflow (AHO).
Methods: Here, we induced and maintained low intraocular pressure (L-IOP) in healthy Sprague Dawley (SD) rats by puncturing their eyes using a tube (200-µm diameter) for 2 weeks. After the rats were euthanized, their eyes were removed, fixed, embedded, stained, and scanned to analyze the physiological and pathological changes in the trabecular meshwork (TM) and Schlemm's canal (SC). We measured SC parameters using ImageJ software and assessed the expression of various markers related to flow shear stress (KLF4), fibrosis (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, α-SMA, pSmad1/5, pSmad2/3, and fibronectin), cytoskeleton (integrin β1 and F-actin), diastolic function (nitric oxide synthase and endothelial nitric oxide synthase [eNOS]), apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3), and proliferation (Ki-67) using immunofluorescence or immunohistochemistry.
Results: L-IOP eyes showed a larger SC area, higher eNOS expression, and lower KLF4 and F-actin expression in the TM and SC (both P < 0.05) than control eyes. The aqueous humor of L-IOP eyes had a higher abundance of fibrotic proteins and apoptotic cells than that of control eyes, with significantly higher TGF-β1, α-SMA, fibronectin, and cleaved caspase-3 expression (all P < 0.05).
Conclusions: In conclusion, a persistence of L-IOP for 2 weeks may contribute to fibrosis in the TM and SC and might be detrimental to conventional AHO in SD rat eyes.
Translational relevance: Clinicians should consider that aberrant shear force induced by aqueous humor fluctuation may damage AHO outflow channel when treating patients.
期刊介绍:
Translational Vision Science & Technology (TVST), an official journal of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), an international organization whose purpose is to advance research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders, is an online, open access, peer-reviewed journal emphasizing multidisciplinary research that bridges the gap between basic research and clinical care. A highly qualified and diverse group of Associate Editors and Editorial Board Members is led by Editor-in-Chief Marco Zarbin, MD, PhD, FARVO.
The journal covers a broad spectrum of work, including but not limited to:
Applications of stem cell technology for regenerative medicine,
Development of new animal models of human diseases,
Tissue bioengineering,
Chemical engineering to improve virus-based gene delivery,
Nanotechnology for drug delivery,
Design and synthesis of artificial extracellular matrices,
Development of a true microsurgical operating environment,
Refining data analysis algorithms to improve in vivo imaging technology,
Results of Phase 1 clinical trials,
Reverse translational ("bedside to bench") research.
TVST seeks manuscripts from scientists and clinicians with diverse backgrounds ranging from basic chemistry to ophthalmic surgery that will advance or change the way we understand and/or treat vision-threatening diseases. TVST encourages the use of color, multimedia, hyperlinks, program code and other digital enhancements.