RNA-seq analysis of human trabecular endothelial cells after treatment with timolol maleate

Timolol maleate (timolol), a β-receptor blocker, reduces intraocular pressure by decreasing aqueous humor production. Timolol reportedly also protects ganglion cells, decreases aqueous humor outflow facility, and destroys the extracellular matrix in the trabecular meshwork. In this study, we investigated the effects of timolol on cultured human trabecular endothelial cells purchased from ScienCell using next-generation sequencing.

Experimental investigation.

Total ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted after 24 h. More than 100 million RNAs in control and timolol-treated group were sequenced using a next-generation sequencer. The expression of 55,778 RNAs was analyzed.

A total of 2,105 genes were significantly upregulated and 2,125 genes were downregulated, after the addition of timolol. VGF nerve growth factor inducible (VGF) (388-fold) had the maximum increase in expression, followed by amphiregulin (333-fold), a member of the epidermal growth factor family. Moreover, the expression of extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 1, 2, 3, 10, 12, and 14, increased.

Timolol exerts various effects on human trabecular endothelial cells. The increase in MMP expression may contribute to the decrease in the aqueous humor outflow facility.