TY - JOUR
T1 - Glial Cells in Glaucoma
T2 - Friends, Foes, and Potential Therapeutic Targets
AU - García-Bermúdez, Mariana Y
AU - Freude, Kristine K
AU - Mouhammad, Zaynab A
AU - van Wijngaarden, Peter
AU - Martin, Keith K
AU - Kolko, Miriam
N1 - Copyright © 2021 García-Bermúdez, Freude, Mouhammad, van Wijngaarden, Martin and Kolko.
PY - 2021/3/16
Y1 - 2021/3/16
N2 - Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, affecting ~80 million people by 2020 (1, 2). The condition is characterized by a progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons accompanied by visual field loss. The underlying pathophysiology of glaucoma remains elusive. Glaucoma is recognized as a multifactorial disease, and lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only treatment that has been shown to slow the progression of the condition. However, a significant number of glaucoma patients continue to go blind despite intraocular pressure-lowering treatment (2). Thus, the need for alternative treatment strategies is indisputable. Accumulating evidence suggests that glial cells play a significant role in supporting RGC function and that glial dysfunction may contribute to optic nerve disease. Here, we review recent advances in understanding the role of glial cells in the pathophysiology of glaucoma. A particular focus is on the dynamic and essential interactions between glial cells and RGCs and potential therapeutic approaches to glaucoma by targeting glial cells.
AB - Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, affecting ~80 million people by 2020 (1, 2). The condition is characterized by a progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons accompanied by visual field loss. The underlying pathophysiology of glaucoma remains elusive. Glaucoma is recognized as a multifactorial disease, and lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only treatment that has been shown to slow the progression of the condition. However, a significant number of glaucoma patients continue to go blind despite intraocular pressure-lowering treatment (2). Thus, the need for alternative treatment strategies is indisputable. Accumulating evidence suggests that glial cells play a significant role in supporting RGC function and that glial dysfunction may contribute to optic nerve disease. Here, we review recent advances in understanding the role of glial cells in the pathophysiology of glaucoma. A particular focus is on the dynamic and essential interactions between glial cells and RGCs and potential therapeutic approaches to glaucoma by targeting glial cells.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103405633&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fneur.2021.624983
DO - 10.3389/fneur.2021.624983
M3 - Review
C2 - 33796062
VL - 12
SP - 624983
JO - Frontiers in Neurology
JF - Frontiers in Neurology
SN - 1664-2295
M1 - 624983
ER -