March 1988
Volume 29, Issue 3
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Articles  |   March 1988
Tissue plasminogen activator in cultured human trabecular meshwork cells. Predominance of enzyme over plasminogen activator inhibitor.
Author Affiliations
  • M A Shuman
    Department of Medicine, University of California Medical Center, San Francisco 94143-0128.
  • J R Polansky
    Department of Medicine, University of California Medical Center, San Francisco 94143-0128.
  • C Merkel
    Department of Medicine, University of California Medical Center, San Francisco 94143-0128.
  • J A Alvarado
    Department of Medicine, University of California Medical Center, San Francisco 94143-0128.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science March 1988, Vol.29, 401-405. doi:
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      M A Shuman, J R Polansky, C Merkel, J A Alvarado; Tissue plasminogen activator in cultured human trabecular meshwork cells. Predominance of enzyme over plasminogen activator inhibitor.. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 1988;29(3):401-405.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Maintenance of patency of the trabecular meshwork, the major outflow channel of the anterior chamber of the eye, is necessary to prevent an excessive rise in intraocular pressure. Obstruction of flow due to clot formation results in severe glaucoma and damage to the optic nerve. We have found that human trabecular meshwork cells which have been passaged in tissue culture synthesize large amounts of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), based on functional, immunologic and molecular weight analysis. Trabecular cells express substantially more t-PA activity than vascular endothelium which produces t-PA for clot dissolution in the systemic circulation. Vascular cells produce excess t-PA inhibitor while trabecular cells make comparatively little. Trabecular meshwork cells are the first normal cell type reported in which the balance between t-PA and inhibitor is weighted towards the activator, indicating that fibrinolysis may be more important than clotting in the anterior chamber of the eye.

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