Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is treated by risk factor management for which the only modifiable risk factor is intraocular pressure (IOP). Previous physiologic studies identified the trabecular meshwork (TM) as the primary resistor to aqueous humor outflow from the eye and determined that diseased TM in POAG caused increased IOP. Simultaneously, pathology in the post-TM anterior sclera and intra-scleral distal outflow pathway has been implied with the level of disease here also being nearly equivalent to that of the TM itself. This observation coupled with recent and variably successful IOP lowering from minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS), designed to simply bypass the TM, further confirms that IOP is more complex than just the TM. The global goal of this proposal entitled Discovery and Characterization of Anterior Sclera Pathology in Glaucoma is to identify novel, uncover the molecular mechanisms of, and realize the importance of continued impediments to aqueous humor outflow downstream of the TM in the anterior sclera and intra-scleral distal outflow pathway.
In Specific Aim 1, we will apply modern histological techniques to revisit prior and rudimentary suggestions of post-TM scleral and intra-scleral outflow pathway fibrosis and collapse.
In Specific Aim 2, we will evaluate the molecular mechanisms for scleral and intra-scleral distal outflow pathway fibrosis by applying knowledge regarding known pro-fibrotic agents such as TGF- in the TM to freshly harvested glaucomatous sclera obtained during canaloplasty surgery.
In Specific Aim 3, we will determine the impact of TGF- mediated fibrosis on sclera and the intra-scleral distal outflow pathway by studying permeability characteristics via newly generated glaucoma scleral cell lines and by the development of a new animal perfusion model. This Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award serves as a foundation and continuation of my MD/PhD completion with Dr. Solomon Snyder at the Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, ophthalmology residency training at the Doheny Eye Institute at the University of Southern California (USC), and glaucoma fellowship tutelage under Dr. Robert Weinreb at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). I have now placed myself at USC as an Assistant Professor in Ophthalmology because USC has the track record, fresh experience with K-awardees, and excellent mentorship in Drs. David Hinton (Mentor), James Tan (Co-Mentor), and Robert Weinreb (Co-Mentor; at UCSD) to provide the additional research training and experience necessary to fuel my success. My career development plan will be built around my mentors and the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute organized young investigator courses and responsible conduct in research training. Through the completion of these studies we hope to (a) further basic understanding of aqueous humor outflow from the normal eye and (b) develop an improved insight into impediments of aqueous humor outflow in POAG to allow for future innovation of pharmacological and surgical glaucoma treatments. Furthermore, through this support, I will achieve my immediate goals of developing my research program and identity as well as establish the next step in my long-term goal of becoming an independently NIH-funded glaucoma health-oriented clinician-scientist researcher.

Public Health Relevance

Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss in the United States and worldwide with increased intraocular pressure as the overwhelming primary risk factor. The overall goal of this proposal entitled 'Discovery and Characterization of Anterior Sclera Pathology in Glaucoma' is to study new and clinically relevant impediments to fluid flow from the eye in the anterior sclera that can cause increased intraocular pressure and subsequently glaucomatous optic nerve damage. Specifically, we propose to work on human tissue to 1) identify new sources of impediment to fluid outflow from the eye in the anterior sclera, 2) uncover the molecular mechanisms responsible for these impediments, and 3) evaluate for their significance by designing new tools for study all for the goal of preserving and improving human vision in glaucoma.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08EY024674-03
Application #
9128004
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZEY1)
Program Officer
Agarwal, Neeraj
Project Start
2014-09-30
Project End
2019-09-29
Budget Start
2016-09-30
Budget End
2017-09-29
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Ophthalmology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
092530369
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095
Huang, Alex S; Francis, Brian A; Weinreb, Robert N (2018) Structural and functional imaging of aqueous humour outflow: a review. Clin Exp Ophthalmol 46:158-168
Huang, Alex S; Penteado, Rafaella C; Saha, Sajib K et al. (2018) Fluorescein Aqueous Angiography in Live Normal Human Eyes. J Glaucoma 27:957-964
Akagi, Tadamichi; Uji, Akihito; Huang, Alex S et al. (2018) Conjunctival and Intrascleral Vasculatures Assessed Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Normal Eyes. Am J Ophthalmol 196:1-9
Keller, Kate E; Bhattacharya, Sanjoy K; BorrĂ¡s, Theresa et al. (2018) Consensus recommendations for trabecular meshwork cell isolation, characterization and culture. Exp Eye Res 171:164-173
Huang, Alex S; Belghith, Akram; Dastiridou, Anna et al. (2017) Automated circumferential construction of first-order aqueous humor outflow pathways using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. J Biomed Opt 22:66010
Akil, Handan; Chopra, Vikas; Huang, Alex S et al. (2017) Short-Term Clinical Results of Ab Interno Trabeculotomy Using the Trabectome with or without Cataract Surgery for Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients of High Intraocular Pressure. J Ophthalmol 2017:8248710
Huang, Alex S; Camp, Andrew; Xu, Benjamin Y et al. (2017) Aqueous Angiography: Aqueous Humor Outflow Imaging in Live Human Subjects. Ophthalmology 124:1249-1251
Akil, Handan; Huang, Alex S; Francis, Brian A et al. (2017) Retinal vessel density from optical coherence tomography angiography to differentiate early glaucoma, pre-perimetric glaucoma and normal eyes. PLoS One 12:e0170476
Huang, Alex S; Li, Meng; Yang, Diya et al. (2017) Aqueous Angiography in Living Nonhuman Primates Shows Segmental, Pulsatile, and Dynamic Angiographic Aqueous Humor Outflow. Ophthalmology 124:793-803
Saraswathy, Sindhu; Tan, James C H; Yu, Fei et al. (2016) Aqueous Angiography: Real-Time and Physiologic Aqueous Humor Outflow Imaging. PLoS One 11:e0147176

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