Gap Junction Protein Connexin43 (GJA1) in the human glaucomatous optic nerve head and retina

摘要

Background: In glaucoma, the mitial site of injury to the retinal ganglion cell axon is believed to occur at the lamina cribrosa. Evidence is accumulating the astrocyte responses in the optic nerve head may underlie cellular changes that lead to axonal damage. In the optic nerve head astrocytes are extensively coupled via gap junctions. These intercellular channels may allow the passage of apoptotic factors between cells and have been implicated as a mediator of neuronal degeneration in the central nervous system. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of the gap junction protein connexin43 (GJAI) in the human glaucomatous optic nerve head and retina.