Gugleta Konstantin
Augenklinik, Universitätsspital Basel, Schweiz.
Klin Monbl Augenheilkd. 2018 Feb;235(2):140-145. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-124084. Epub 2018 Feb 15.
This review article is focused on the various facets of possible endothelin's role in glaucoma; involvement of endothelin in other ocular, in particular vascular, diseases is not specifically discussed. Endothelin is an ubiquitous molecule that occurs in practically all ocular tissues. Its primary physiological function is regulation of the blood vessel diameter and hence regulation of the blood supply in tissues. It is secreted locally, and exerts its effect also predominantly locally. This limits the value of venous blood sampling for estimation of the endothelin function in a particular patient, or in study cohorts as well. Endothelin is involved in the regulation of intraocular pressure, in the regulation of blood flow and in activation of retinal and optic nerve head astrocytes. All these functions are of high importance when it comes to pathogenesis of glaucoma. Possible future directions for glaucoma treatment should encompass pharmacological antagonism to endothelin, an avenue which is at present hindered by potentially serious side-effects of available endothelin-antagonists.
这篇综述文章聚焦于内皮素在青光眼中可能发挥作用的各个方面；内皮素在其他眼部疾病，特别是血管性疾病中的作用未作具体讨论。内皮素是一种普遍存在的分子，几乎存在于所有眼部组织中。其主要生理功能是调节血管直径，从而调节组织中的血液供应。它在局部分泌，其作用也主要在局部发挥。这限制了通过静脉血采样来评估特定患者或研究队列中内皮素功能的价值。内皮素参与眼内压调节、血流调节以及视网膜和视神经乳头星形胶质细胞的激活。当涉及青光眼的发病机制时，所有这些功能都非常重要。青光眼治疗未来可能的方向应包括对内皮素的药理拮抗作用，然而目前这一途径受到现有内皮素拮抗剂潜在严重副作用的阻碍。
