PubMed ID: 26310164
Author(s): Mac Nair CE, Nickells RW. Neuroinflammation in glaucoma and optic nerve damage. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 2015;134:343-63. doi: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2015.06.010. Epub 2015 Jul 10. Review. PMID 26310164
Journal: Progress In Molecular Biology And Translational Science, Volume 134, 2015
Glaucoma is a group of optic neuropathies characterized by the degeneration of retinal ganglion cell axons and somas, ultimately preventing light signals in the retina from reaching the brain. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the world, and treatment options for patients remain limited and minimally efficacious. A number of mechanisms have been linked to glaucomatous pathophysiology. A leading role is now attributed to neuroinflammatory conditions generated by the resident innate immune cells in the optic nerve and retina. Since the eye is immune privileged, the adaptation of these innate immune cells, termed glia, is crucial following trauma. In this chapter, we discuss the mechanisms associated with normal glial function in a healthy eye, and how changes in glial activation can contribute to the process of glaucomatous neurodegeneration in both the optic nerve and retina.
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