Glaucoma as a Tauopathy—Is It the Missing Piece in the Glaucoma Puzzle?
Glaucoma is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder affecting the visual system which can result in vision loss and blindness. The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying glaucomatous optic neuropathy are ultimately enigmatic, prompting ongoing investigations into its potential shared pathogenesis with othe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/21/6900 |
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| author | Maria Laura Passaro Francesco Matarazzo Gianmarco Abbadessa Antonio Pezone Antonio Porcellini Fausto Tranfa Michele Rinaldi Ciro Costagliola |
| author_facet | Maria Laura Passaro Francesco Matarazzo Gianmarco Abbadessa Antonio Pezone Antonio Porcellini Fausto Tranfa Michele Rinaldi Ciro Costagliola |
| author_sort | Maria Laura Passaro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Glaucoma is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder affecting the visual system which can result in vision loss and blindness. The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying glaucomatous optic neuropathy are ultimately enigmatic, prompting ongoing investigations into its potential shared pathogenesis with other neurodegenerative neurological disorders. Tauopathies represent a subclass of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the abnormal deposition of tau protein within the brain and consequent microtubule destabilization. The extended spectrum of tauopathies includes conditions such as frontotemporal dementias, progressive supranuclear palsy, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and Alzheimer’s disease. Notably, recent decades have witnessed emerging documentation of tau inclusion among glaucoma patients, providing substantiation that this ocular disease may similarly manifest features of tauopathies. These studies found that: (i) aggregated tau inclusions are present in the somatodendritic compartment of RGCs in glaucoma patients; (ii) the etiology of the disease may affect tau splicing, phosphorylation, oligomerization, and subcellular localization; and (iii) short interfering RNA against tau, administered intraocularly, significantly decreased retinal tau accumulation and enhanced RGC somas and axon survival, demonstrating a crucial role for tau modifications in ocular hypertension-induced neuronal injury. Here, we examine the most recent evidence surrounding the interplay between tau protein dysregulation and glaucomatous neurodegeneration. We explore the novel perspective of glaucoma as a tau-associated disorder and open avenues for cross-disciplinary collaboration and new treatment strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:26:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c6c2581b4ce4131a031899e91b7331d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:26:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c6c2581b4ce4131a031899e91b7331d2023-11-10T15:06:51ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832023-11-011221690010.3390/jcm12216900Glaucoma as a Tauopathy—Is It the Missing Piece in the Glaucoma Puzzle?Maria Laura Passaro0Francesco Matarazzo1Gianmarco Abbadessa2Antonio Pezone3Antonio Porcellini4Fausto Tranfa5Michele Rinaldi6Ciro Costagliola7Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, ItalyPineta Grande Hospital, 81030 Castel Volturno, ItalyDivision of Neurology, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80126 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80126 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, ItalyGlaucoma is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder affecting the visual system which can result in vision loss and blindness. The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying glaucomatous optic neuropathy are ultimately enigmatic, prompting ongoing investigations into its potential shared pathogenesis with other neurodegenerative neurological disorders. Tauopathies represent a subclass of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the abnormal deposition of tau protein within the brain and consequent microtubule destabilization. The extended spectrum of tauopathies includes conditions such as frontotemporal dementias, progressive supranuclear palsy, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and Alzheimer’s disease. Notably, recent decades have witnessed emerging documentation of tau inclusion among glaucoma patients, providing substantiation that this ocular disease may similarly manifest features of tauopathies. These studies found that: (i) aggregated tau inclusions are present in the somatodendritic compartment of RGCs in glaucoma patients; (ii) the etiology of the disease may affect tau splicing, phosphorylation, oligomerization, and subcellular localization; and (iii) short interfering RNA against tau, administered intraocularly, significantly decreased retinal tau accumulation and enhanced RGC somas and axon survival, demonstrating a crucial role for tau modifications in ocular hypertension-induced neuronal injury. Here, we examine the most recent evidence surrounding the interplay between tau protein dysregulation and glaucomatous neurodegeneration. We explore the novel perspective of glaucoma as a tau-associated disorder and open avenues for cross-disciplinary collaboration and new treatment strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/21/6900glaucomaneurodegenerationtauopathyoxidative damage |
| spellingShingle | Maria Laura Passaro Francesco Matarazzo Gianmarco Abbadessa Antonio Pezone Antonio Porcellini Fausto Tranfa Michele Rinaldi Ciro Costagliola Glaucoma as a Tauopathy—Is It the Missing Piece in the Glaucoma Puzzle? Journal of Clinical Medicine glaucoma neurodegeneration tauopathy oxidative damage |
| title | Glaucoma as a Tauopathy—Is It the Missing Piece in the Glaucoma Puzzle? |
| title_full | Glaucoma as a Tauopathy—Is It the Missing Piece in the Glaucoma Puzzle? |
| title_fullStr | Glaucoma as a Tauopathy—Is It the Missing Piece in the Glaucoma Puzzle? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Glaucoma as a Tauopathy—Is It the Missing Piece in the Glaucoma Puzzle? |
| title_short | Glaucoma as a Tauopathy—Is It the Missing Piece in the Glaucoma Puzzle? |
| title_sort | glaucoma as a tauopathy is it the missing piece in the glaucoma puzzle |
| topic | glaucoma neurodegeneration tauopathy oxidative damage |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/21/6900 |
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