Scientists have found the cause of the glaucoma

Glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness, is associated with increased pressure in the eye. Fluid accumulates in the eyes, increasing the pressure and eventually causes damage to the optic nerve. For nearly 150 years, researchers have tried to understand what is causing the blockage.

In a unique study of the eye human cells, the research team from several institutions led by biomedical engineers at northwestern University have discovered a new culprit. The results showed that glaucoma is the result of mechanical dysfunction of a thin layer endotheline cells, which is an obstacle for liquid, which channel it then flows out of the eye.

The researchers found that eyes with glaucoma has endothelial cells is much harder than in a healthy body. This rigidity limits the ability of cells to deformation and allows fluid to cross the endothelium and drain into the canal sclera sinus. This increase in the resistance to flow is responsible for the increase in pressure associated with glaucoma.

As stated by the author Mark Johnson: "Our work shows that cells of this endothelial layer act as mechanical gates. Future therapeutic strategies that alter the stiffness of these cells will potentially lead to the treatment of this debilitating disease. This is the first observation demonstrating how the methods of mechanobiology — the study of the mechanical characteristics of cells have been used to show how dysfunctional mechanics is the basis of the pathological process".

Source: nauka24news.ru/