PURPOSE: To investigate the cytotoxicities of wild type myocilin and trunctated (Q368X) myocilin in cultured human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells. METHODS: GFP tagged truncated myocilin and DsRED1 tagged wild type myocilin were expressed in TM cells using adenoviral vectors and observed colocalization by confocal microscope. Cytopathic effects in the cells were examined by light microscope and WST-1 cell proliferation assay. RESULTS: Colocalization of wild type and truncated myocilin was observed in cells co-expressing the proteins. Truncated myocilin was found to be toxic to cells, leading to deformed cellular morphology and diminished cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: The intracellular accumulation of truncated myocilin exhibited cytotoxicity in trabecular meshwork cells, and eventually resulted in diminished number and dysfunction of trabecular meshwork cells, which might be involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.
Cell Proliferation ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Trabecular Meshwork*

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of genistein on the survival and production of nitric oxide in cultured human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMC). METHODS: Primarily cultured HTMC were exposed to 0, 1, and 10 microm genistein using serum-deprived media. Production of nitric oxide and eNOS activity were assessed with the Griess assay and RT-PCR after exposure to genistein for 10 min and one day. Cellular survival was assessed via MTT assay after exposure to genistein for one day. RESULTS: Genistein significantly increased the production of nitric oxide after exposure for 1 min at 10 microm and for 1 day at 1 microm under serum-deprived conditions. Genistein increased eNOS activity and cellular survival in HTMC. CONCLUSIONS: Genistein increases cellular survival under serum-deprived conditions, accompanied with an increase in nitric oxide production after both short-term and long-term exposures.
Genistein ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; Trabecular Meshwork

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of beta-adrenergics on the production of nitric oxide (NO) in cultured trabecular meshwork cells. METHODS: Primarily cultured porcine trabecular meshwork cells were exposed to timolol and to propranolol at various concentrations. Cellular survival was assessed by MTT assay and the production of nitrite was assessed by Griess reaction after 24 hours and 3 days respectively. Also investigated was the effect of co-administraton of timolol and isoproterenol. RESULTS: After exposure for 24 hours, neither drug affected the cellular survival. Timolol and propranolol inhibited the production of NO significantly (p<0.05). Isoproterenol abolished timolol-induced inhibition of NO production after 24 hours. These results were similar after exposure for 3 days. CONCLUSIONS: Both timolol and propranolol inhibit the production of NO in trabecular meshwork cells and isoproterenol abolished this effect. These results suggest that beta-adrenerics involves in the production of NO in trabecular meshwork cells.
Isoproterenol ; Nitric Oxide* ; Propranolol ; Timolol ; Trabecular Meshwork*

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of mitomycin C on the proliferation of cultured trabecular cells and its relation to nitric oxide (NO) production. METHODS: The effect of NO donor, SIN-1, on the proliferation of primarily cultured porcine trabecular meshwork cells was studied with MTT assay. After treatment with mitomycin C at various concentrations for 1 hour, the proliferation was assessed by MTT assay and the production of nitrite was assessed by Griess reaction after 24 hours and 3 days respectively. RESULTS: SIN-1 significantly inhibited proliferation of cultured trabecular meshwork cells (p<0.05). Mitomycin C also suppressed the cellular proliferation(p<0.05) but did not affect the production of nitrite (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both NO donor and mitomycin C have an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of trabecular meshwork cells. However, inhibitory effect of mitomycin C was not related to the production of NO.
Humans ; Mitomycin* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Tissue Donors ; Trabecular Meshwork*

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) on the production of nitric oxide in cultured human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMC). METHODS: Primarily cultured HTMC were exposed to 0, 0.5, and 1.0 U/ml EPO using serum-deprived media for 2 days. Production of nitric oxide and cellular survival were assessed with Griess assay and MTT assay, respectively. Expression of EPO mRNA receptor and activity of eNOS were assessed with RT-PCR. RESULTS: EPO did not affect the survival of HTMC (p > 0.05). EPO increased the production of nitric oxide (p < 0.05) accompanied with increased eNOS activity. CONCLUSIONS: EPO had no effect on the cellular survival under serum-deprived conditions. EPO increases the production of nitric oxide by increasing eNOS activity.
Erythropoietin ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; RNA, Messenger ; Trabecular Meshwork

PURPOSE: This study was performed to determine the optimal tile size for the fractal dimension of the mandibular trabecular bone using a tile counting method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Digital intraoral radiographic images were obtained at the mandibular angle, molar, premolar, and incisor regions of 29 human dry mandibles. After preprocessing, the parameters representing morphometric characteristics of the trabecular bone were calculated. The fractal dimensions of the processed images were analyzed in various tile sizes by the tile counting method. RESULTS: The optimal range of tile size was 0.132 mm to 0.396 mm for the fractal dimension using the tile counting method. The sizes were closely related to the morphometric parameters. CONCLUSION: The fractal dimension of mandibular trabecular bone, as calculated with the tile counting method, can be best characterized with a range of tile sizes from 0.132 to 0.396 mm.
Bicuspid ; Fractals ; Humans ; Incisor ; Mandible ; Molar ; Trabecular Meshwork

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of anti-inflammatory agents, specifically bromfenac, loteprednol, and prednisolone, on the permeability of cultured human trabecular meshwork cell (HTMC) monolayers. METHODS: HTMCs were cultured until confluency in the inner chamber of Transwell, then exposed to 1/1,000 or 1/500 diluted commercial 0.1% bromfenac, 0.5% loteprednol, and 1% prednisolone for 24 hours. The permeabilities of carboxyfluorescein through the HTMC monolayer were measured with a spectrofluorometer after 2 hours in the outer chamber. Cellular viabilities were assessed with an 3-[4,5–dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS: Bromfenac and loteprednol diluted at 1/1,000 or 1/500 did not significantly affect the cellular survival (p > 0.05). Bromfenac did not affect the permeability via the HTMC monolayer (p > 0.05) and loteprednol decreased the permeability (p < 0.05). In addition, 1/2,000 prednisolone also decreased the permeability (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Among the anti-inflammatory agents, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent bromfenac did not affect the permeability, while loteprednol and prednisolone decreased the permeability through the HTMC monolayer. Thus, loteprednol and prednisolone may decrease the trabecular outflow.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents* ; Humans ; Loteprednol Etabonate ; Permeability* ; Prednisolone ; Trabecular Meshwork*

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of anti-inflammatory agents, specifically bromfenac, loteprednol, and prednisolone, on the permeability of cultured human trabecular meshwork cell (HTMC) monolayers. METHODS: HTMCs were cultured until confluency in the inner chamber of Transwell, then exposed to 1/1,000 or 1/500 diluted commercial 0.1% bromfenac, 0.5% loteprednol, and 1% prednisolone for 24 hours. The permeabilities of carboxyfluorescein through the HTMC monolayer were measured with a spectrofluorometer after 2 hours in the outer chamber. Cellular viabilities were assessed with an 3-[4,5–dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS: Bromfenac and loteprednol diluted at 1/1,000 or 1/500 did not significantly affect the cellular survival (p > 0.05). Bromfenac did not affect the permeability via the HTMC monolayer (p > 0.05) and loteprednol decreased the permeability (p < 0.05). In addition, 1/2,000 prednisolone also decreased the permeability (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Among the anti-inflammatory agents, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent bromfenac did not affect the permeability, while loteprednol and prednisolone decreased the permeability through the HTMC monolayer. Thus, loteprednol and prednisolone may decrease the trabecular outflow.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents* ; Humans ; Loteprednol Etabonate ; Permeability* ; Prednisolone ; Trabecular Meshwork*

We evaluated thirty normal human eyes(aged from 22 to 95) to investigate the changes with age of the cellularity and acid mucopolysaccharides in the trabecular meshwork. The cellularities were evaluated from the number of the cells per unit area of trabecular meshwork and the number of cells per unit length of trabecular meshwork. In addition, acid mucopolysaccharides(AMS) were investigated by counter staining the trabecular meshwork specimens, with Van Gieson following colloidal iron. The results were as follows: 1. With age, cellularities of the whole trabecular meshwork and the counterpart of filtration region decreased significantly(p0.05). 2. The trabecular meshwork cellularity and the absolute number of cells were decreased by 40.0% and 35.9%, respectively, for those aged from 22 to 95. 3. There was no strong relation between the change of acid mucopolysaccharides of the trabecular meshwork and aging process. The grade +1 AMS was observed in 15 eyes(50.0%) and was the most prevalent.
Aging ; Colloids ; Filtration ; Glaucoma ; Glycosaminoglycans* ; Humans ; Iron ; Trabecular Meshwork*

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of nitroglycerin on the production of nitric oxide and its related pathway in cultured human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMC). METHODS: Primarily cultured HTMC were exposed to 10 nM nitroglycerin using 1% serum-containing media for 30 minutes. The production of nitric oxide was assessed with the Griess assay and expressions of eNOS mRNA was assessed with RT-PCR. Additionally, the cells were exposed to wortmanin and Akt1/2 kinase inhibitor to investigate the mechanism related to the production of nitric oxide. RESULTS: Nitroglycerin increased the production of nitric oxide (p < 0.05) accompanied with increased expression of eNOS mRNA. The increased production of nitric oxide and eNOS mRNA was inhibited by wortmanin and Akt1/2 kinase inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose nitroglycerin increased the production of nitric oxide accompanied by increased eNOS activity. Nitroglycerin drives eNOS activation via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway.
Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitroglycerin ; Phosphatidylinositols ; Phosphotransferases ; RNA, Messenger ; Trabecular Meshwork