Role of autophagy in the occurrence and development of glaucoma / 中华实验眼科杂志

ABSTRACT

Glaucoma is a chronic neurodegenerative disease of the optic nerve accompanied by apoptosis of the retinal ganglion cells, atrophy and depression of the optic nerve, and visual field loss.However, the mechanism of high intraocular pressure and glaucomatous optic neuropathy has not yet been elucidated.Autophagy is a lysosomal degradative process, which eliminates bulk cytoplasmic constituents.In recent years, a large number of studies have shown autophagy to be closely related to the occurrence and development of glaucoma.These studies examined the stress response of ocular tissues to high intraocular pressure, optic nerve protection, optic disc remodeling, immune regulation, abnormal protein removal and scar regulation.This article summarizes the relationship between autophagy and glaucoma, and pays special attention to the progress of research concerning autophagy in the trabecular meshwork, retinal ganglion cells, exfoliation syndrome, and scarring after glaucoma filtering surgery.It will lay a foundation for a deeper understanding of glaucoma pathogenesis and provide a new idea for diagnosing and treating glaucoma in the future.