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Abstract #21480 Published in IGR 10-3
Soluble amyloid β oligomers may contribute to apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma
Yin H; Chen L; Chen X; Liu XMedical Hypotheses 2008; 71: 77-80
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness. It is characterized by excavation of optic nerve head and visual field loss. Even though the pathogenesis of glaucoma remains unclear, it is generally accepted that elevated intraocular pressure is the major risk factor. No matter what the specific initiators are, retinal ganglion cells are believed to die via apoptosis eventually. It is known that glaucoma correlates strongly with Alzheimer's disease and the two diseases share many similarities in pathogenic mechanisms. Recent studies have indicated that amyloid β peptide, which is implicated in the progression of Alzheimer's disease, may be also responsible for retinal ganglion cells death in glaucoma. Amyloid β exists in different forms, including monomers, oligomers and fibrils, and among these, as demonstrated by extensive evidences, soluble amyloid β oligomers rather than insoluble amyloid β fibrils induced apoptosis of neurons in Alzheimer's disease. Here we propose that soluble amyloid β oligomers may play an important role in activation of apoptotic cascades in retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma.
Dr. X. Liu, Department of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmic Laboratories, West China Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. xliu1213@gmail.com
Classification:
2.13 Retina and retinal nerve fibre layer (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
11.8 Neuroprotection (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
3.6 Cellular biology (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)