Glaucoma Drainage Device Coated with Mitomycin C Loaded Opal Shale Microparticles to Inhibit Bleb Fibrosis.

Excessive fibrosis is the topmost factor for the defeat of surgical glaucoma drainage device (GDD) implantation. Adjuvant drug approaches are promising to help reduce the scar formation and excessive fibrosis. Opal shale (OS), as a natural state and noncrystalline silica substance with poriferous nature and strong adsorbability, is highly likely to undertake drug loading and delivery.

Microarray expression profile analysis of long non-coding RNAs in optineurin E50K mutant transgenic mice.

The biological role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involves various cellular processes and leads to human diseases. Mutations in the optineurin (OPTN) gene, including E50K, which encodes an amino acid substitution, have been associated with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). The present study was designed to identify lncRNAs associated with OPTN (E50K) transgenic mice and investigate its functions in the pathogenesis of POAG.

Lentiviral Delivery of Small Hairpin RNA Targeting Connective Tissue Growth Factor Blocks Profibrotic Signaling in Tenon's Capsule Fibroblasts.

Purposes: Trabeculectomy is a surgical procedure for lowering intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients, in which excessive scarring leading to failure of the filtering bleb adversely affects the surgical outcome. Heightened Tenon's capsule fibroblast (TCF) proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition are implicated in this process but endogenous factors that regulate TCF functions remain largely elusive. This study sought to elucidate the role of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the regulation of TCF phenotypes and signaling.