Current research of thrombospondin in eye / 中华实验眼科杂志

ABSTRACT

Thrombospondin(TSP) has five members with diversiform expressions and complicated biologic functions in different histiocytes all over the body.TSP also is widely expressed in different parts of eye,such as retinal pigment epithelial cells,corneal endothelial cells and lens epithelial cells,etc.,and sometimes TSP is secreted by trabecular meshwork cells.As a group of cytokines,TSP plays an important regulating role in the physiological and pathological activities of eye.Studies determined that TSP participates in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration,repaired of corneal diseases,formation of cataract,development of open-angle glaucoma,pathological process of eye tumor,occurrence of proliferating vitroretinopathy and diabetic retinopathy.Studies towards their functions are helpful for revealing the pathogenesis of eye diseases and providing new ideas of prevention and therapy.The distribution,source and eye disease-related action of TSP were summarized.