Von Thun Und Hohenstein-Blaul Nadine, Bell Katharina, Pfeiffer Norbert, Grus Franz H
Experimental and Translational Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
Experimental and Translational Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
Eur J Pharmacol. 2016 Sep 15;787:105-18. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2016.04.031. Epub 2016 Apr 14.
The pathogenesis of glaucoma, a common neurodegenerative disease, involves an immunologic component. Studies demonstrate changes of autoantibody concentrations against retinal and optic nerve head antigens in glaucoma patients. Furthermore we found antibody deposits in human glaucomatous retinae in a pro-inflammatory environment. Clinical studies showed up regulated, but also significantly down-regulated autoantibody levels. These antibodies belong to the natural autoimmunity. The upregulation of autoantibodies can be associated with fatal conditions, but several studies demonstrate that natural autoantibodies entail also neuroprotective characteristics and influence the protein expression of neuroretinal cells. A misbalance in the physiological equilibrium may shift from regulatory immunity into a neuroinflammatory degenerative process, what may lead to a predisposition to glaucoma. However, the protective nature of autoantibodies and the molecular mechanisms underlying the very sensitive equilibrium of natural autoimmunity between autoaggression and neuroprotection offer promising target sites for new therapeutic approaches. Finally, the changes in antibody profiles represent a new opportunity as highly sensitive and specific biomarkers for diagnostics purposes.
青光眼是一种常见的神经退行性疾病，其发病机制涉及免疫成分。研究表明青光眼患者体内针对视网膜和视神经乳头抗原的自身抗体浓度发生了变化。此外，我们发现人类青光眼视网膜在促炎环境中存在抗体沉积。临床研究显示自身抗体水平有上调，但也有显著下调。这些抗体属于天然自身免疫。自身抗体的上调可能与致命情况相关，但多项研究表明天然自身抗体也具有神经保护特性，并影响神经视网膜细胞的蛋白质表达。生理平衡的失衡可能从调节性免疫转变为神经炎症性退行性过程，这可能导致青光眼易感性增加。然而，自身抗体的保护性质以及天然自身免疫在自身攻击和神经保护之间非常敏感的平衡所基于的分子机制，为新的治疗方法提供了有前景的靶点。最后，抗体谱的变化作为用于诊断目的的高度敏感和特异的生物标志物代表了一个新机会。
