Abstract
Presentation Description :
Several cell types involved in glaucomatous optic neuropathy are mechanosensitive, including cells of the conventional outflow pathway (trabecular meshwork cells, inner wall of Schlemm's canal cells) and cells of the optic nerve head (retinal ganglion cells, glia). I will review mechanisms by which relevant cells transduce mechanical stimuli associated either directly or indirectly with intraocular pressure; such mechanisms include stretch-sensitive ion channels and integrins. I will then consider several cellular "case studies" in which this mechanosensitivity is important in ocular hypertension/glaucoma, including pore formation in Schlemm's canal cells and optic nerve head glial reactivity. These mechanosensitive pathways are complex, redundant, and poorly understood; at the same time, they present significant opportunities for therapeutic interventions to preserve vision.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.