[Relationship between oxidatve stress and autoimmunity in glaucoma].

Elevated intraocular pressure does not explain glaucoma in all patients, but there is information that autoimmune mechanisms may be involved in this disorder. We have demonstrated in several studies that glaucoma patients reveal changes in their immune reactivities against ocular antigens. The mechanisms of these reactivities are still widely unknown, but oxidative pathways could play a major role. There is evidence that free radicals are able to alter the ability of glial cells to be recognized as antigens. Furthermore, one can assume that during the aging process posttranslational changes, e. g., oxidation of ocular antigens increase with age. It is feasible that these changed antigens may trigger such changes. in an autoimmune glaucoma animal model we have shown that immunological processes after immunisation can lead to a loss of retinal ganglion cells. Considering that these changes in natural autoimmunity can be found consistently amongst different study populations, it might be a promising new tool for glaucoma diagnosis and new therapeutic immunomodulating options.