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Smoking, an additional risk factor in elder women with primary open-angle glaucoma
Vicente Zanon-Moreno1, Jose J Garcia-Medina, Vicente Zanon-Viguer
1Biomedical Research Center, Dr. Peset University Hospital, Valencia, Spain. zanon_vicmor@gva.es
Molecular Vision
|January 9, 2010
Summary
Smoking significantly elevates inflammation and apoptosis markers in women with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). This suggests smoking exacerbates POAG progression, highlighting it as a critical risk factor for ocular health in women.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Smoking is a global health concern and a risk factor for various ocular diseases.
- Glaucoma, particularly primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), involves damage to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and trabecular meshwork cells (TMCs) via inflammation and apoptosis.
- The impact of smoking on POAG progression in women remains an area requiring further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of smoking on the progression of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in women.
- To assess whether smoking status correlates with specific biomarkers of inflammation and apoptosis in women with POAG.
Main Methods:
- An experimental study involving 120 women (aged 40-90) diagnosed with POAG, categorized into smokers, ex-smokers, and non-smokers (40 each).
- Aqueous humor and plasma samples were collected during surgical procedures.
- Enzyme immunoassay and Western blot were used to measure interleukin-6 (IL-6) as an inflammation marker and caspase-3 and PARP-1 as apoptosis markers.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher levels of IL-6, caspase-3, and PARP-1 were observed in active smokers compared to ex-smokers and non-smokers with POAG (p<0.05).
- These findings indicate increased inflammation and apoptosis in women who currently smoke.
Conclusions:
- Smoking is associated with elevated levels of inflammation and apoptosis markers in the aqueous humor and plasma of women with POAG.
- Smoking may represent a significant additional risk factor contributing to the progression of glaucoma in elderly women.
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