Altered mechanobiology of Schlemm's canal endothelial cells in glaucoma.

ABSTRACT: Increased flow resistance is responsible for the elevated intraocular pressure characteristic of glaucoma, but the cause of this resistance increase is not known. We tested the hypothesis that altered biomechanical behavior of Schlemm's canal (SC) cells contributes to this dysfunction. We used atomic force microscopy, optical magnetic twisting cytometry, and a unique cell perfusion apparatus to examine cultured endothelial cells isolated from the inner wall of SC of healthy and glaucomatous human eyes. Here we establish the existence of a reduced tendency for pore formation in the glaucomatous SC cell--likely accounting for increased outflow resistance--that positively correlates with elevated subcortical cell stiffness, along with an enhanced sensitivity to the mechanical microenvironment

SUBMITTER: Overby DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4183270 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature