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Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease, characterized by progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve axons, and accompanied by loss of visual field sensitivity. Apoptotic mechanism triggered by multiple stimuli, and complex interplay of diverse cellular events are involved in determination of retinal ganglion cell's final fate in glaucoma. Immune factors cells have also been associated with glaucomatous neurodegeneration. The association of the immune system with glaucomatous optic nerve degeneration bears conflicting aspects, which may result in retinal ganglion cell death through an aberrant processing of immune signals. We believe that a better understanding of the balance between different roles of the immune system in glaucomatous optic nerve degeneration, as neuroprotective or neurodestructive, is critical for the development of effective treatment strategies in glaucoma. LA: Chinese
Dr. X.-G. He, Department of Ophthalmology, Daping Hospital of the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China. Xiangge_he@hotmail.com
3.10 Immunobiology (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
2.13 Retina and retinal nerve fibre layer (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)