Evidence for a role of angiopoietin-like 7 (ANGPTL7) in extracellular matrix formation of the human trabecular meshwork: implications for glaucoma.

ABSTRACT: The trabecular meshwork tissue controls the drainage of the aqueous humor of the eye. A dysfunctional trabecular meshwork leads to an altered fluid resistance, which results in increased intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP is the major risk factor of glaucoma, the second-leading cause of blindness in the developed world. In the search for genes altered by glaucomatous insults, we identified angiopoietin-like7 (ANGPTL7), a member of the ANGPTL family. Although structurally related to the angiopoietins, ANGPTL7's function is poorly understood. Because ANGPTL7 is secreted and because extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and organization is critical for aqueous humor resistance, we investigated the effect of ANGPTL7 on relevant trabecular meshwork ECM genes and proteins. We find that overexpressi

SUBMITTER: Comes N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4120059 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature