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Full-Circle Cauterization of Limbal Vascular Plexus for Surgically Induced Glaucoma in Rodents
Published on: February 15, 2022
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An advanced in vitro model to assess glaucoma onset.
Sergio Claudio Saccà1, Sara Tirendi2,3, Sonia Scarfì4
1IRCCS, San Martino General Hospital, Ophthalmology Unit, Genoa, Italy.
ALTEX
|February 14, 2020
Summary
Perfusion bioreactor technology enhances 3D trabecular meshwork models, improving their adaptive response to oxidative stress. This offers new insights for glaucoma treatment development.
Area of Science:
- Ocular Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness, with current treatments focusing on lowering intraocular pressure.
- Existing therapies for glaucoma lack a definitive cure, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare biological responses in a 3D trabecular meshwork model with and without perfusion bioreactor technology.
- To investigate early molecular changes under prolonged oxidative stress in a trabecular meshwork model.
Main Methods:
- Standard 3D cultures of trabecular meshwork cells in Matrigel were used.
- Cells were cultured under static and dynamic (perfusion bioreactor) conditions for one week.
- Evaluated F-actin expression, metabolic activity, gene expression, apoptosis-related proteins, PARP-1 cleavage, and NFκB activation.
Main Results:
- Dynamic conditions, utilizing perfusion bioreactors, enhanced the adaptive behavior of 3D trabecular meshwork cultures.
- The model demonstrated improved responses to chronic oxidative stress under dynamic conditions.
- Observed offsetting pathway activation in response to oxidative stress under dynamic culture.
Conclusions:
- Perfusion bioreactor technology significantly improves the resilience of 3D trabecular meshwork models to oxidative stress.
- This advanced model provides a better platform for studying glaucoma pathogenesis and testing new therapies.
