Abstract
Purpose :
Macrophages play an important role in wound healing and can influence fibroblast behavior. Previous studies have shown that mouse and human sclera contain macrophage populations. Here we investigate scleral macrophage markers in a mouse glaucoma model.
Methods :
OHT was induced in C57BL/6J mice (3 months) by anterior chamber bead-injection (BI) and intraocular pressure (IOP) was monitored serially in OHT and control eyes by rebound tonometry (TonoLab, TioLat, Inc., Helsinki, Finland) at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after injection. Glaucomatous eyes were only included if IOP elevation was >7 mmHg compared to fellow eye control at 1, 3, or 7 days after BI. Mice were euthanized, eyes enucleated and cryopreserved at 3 days and 6 weeks after BI. Scleral eye cups were dissected and cross-sections from the posterior to segments of the eye were processed for immunolabelling with macrophage markers (CD68, CD11b, CD38, F4/80, and CD163) were used to characterize macrophage populations within the peripapillary sclera (PPS) and scleral cross-sections of the mouse eye.
Results :
F4/80, CD68, CD11b, CD163, and CD38 positive cells were detected in the PPS and peripheral sclera of non-glaucomatous mice. CD11b positive cells were seen in the optic nerve, peripapillary sclera, and concentrated in the anterior and posterior sclera in the outer sclera layers and episcleral in non-glaucomatous mice. Following BI OHT for 6 weeks, there was an observable increase in strongly positive CD68 and CD11b cells in PPS and peripheral sclera. Three-day BI OHT eyes also had an increase in CD11b positive cells in the PPS.
Conclusions :
This study shows multiple macrophage markers are present in peripheral and peripapillary region of sclera with an increase in CD11b for 3 days and 6 weeks, and an increase in CD68 for 6 weeks after IOP elevation. These results provide basis for future studies to understand the role of scleral macrophages in glaucoma.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.