治疗青光眼的新机制：水解细胞外基质

Hydrolysis of extracellular matrix:a new treatment mechanism for glaucoma

青光眼是国内外致盲的主因。眼内压过高是此病的重要危险因素。虽然高眼压的病因仍有争论,但小梁网细胞外基质的过度堆积而阻滞房水外流,使眼内压升高,是比较公认的机制。最近,利用小分子化合物来促进细胞外基质代谢的研究有了重要的进展,此等化合物在活体内和活体外实验中均能有效地降低眼内压,因而可能成为治疗青光眼的新一代药物。

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the world. A major risk factor of this disease is an elevated intraocular pressure. Although the exact etiology of ocular hypertension remains controversial, an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix in the trabecular meshwork, which hinders the outflow of aqueous humor, likely contributes to the symptom. Recently, important progress has been made in the drug-induced hydrolysis of extracellular matrix by small molecules. These compounds effectively lowered intraocular pressure in both in vico and in vitro studies. They may become a new generation of therapeutic agents for glaucoma.