The Association between Vascular Abnormalities and Glaucoma—What Comes First?

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 24, pp. 13211

Abstract

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. While intraocular pressure (IOP) presents a major risk factor, the underlying pathophysiology still remains largely unclear. The correlation between vascular abnormalities and glaucoma has been deliberated for decades. Evidence for a role played by vascular factors in the pathogenesis of glaucomatous neurodegeneration has already been postulated. In addition, the fact that glaucoma causes both structural and functional changes to retinal blood vessels has been described. This review aims to investigate the published evidence concerning the relationship between vascular abnormalities and glaucoma, and to provide an overview of the "chicken or egg" dilemma in glaucoma. In this study, several biomarkers of glaucoma progression from a vascular perspective, including endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitric oxide, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), were identified and subsequently assessed for their potential as pharmacological intervention targets.

Authors 7

1. Xiaosha Wang

   University of Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany

2. Maoren Wang

   University of Cologne · Capital Medical University · Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz · Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University · University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China

   Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany

   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany

3. Hanhan Liu

   University of Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany

4. Karl Mercieca

   University Hospital Bonn · University of Manchester

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9WH, UK

   Glaucoma Section, University Hospital Eye Clinic, 53127 Bonn, Germany

5. Julia Prinz Aachen Department of Ophthalmology

   University of Cologne · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany

6. Yuan Feng

   University of Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany

7. Verena Prokosch corresponding

   University of Cologne · Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz · University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany

   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany