Secondary glaucoma: Toward interventions based on molecular underpinnings.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore melatonin's potential as a melanogenesis suppressor, antioxidant, and hypotensive agent for treating pigmentary and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma.
Results Summary
Melatonin was identified as a potent melanogenesis suppressor, antioxidant, and hypotensive agent, suggesting its therapeutic value for pigmentary glaucoma and adjunct benefits for pseudoexfoliative glaucoma.
Population
Patients with pigmentary or pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (specific demographics not detailed).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Targeting melanogenesis | decrease | the risk of pigmentary glaucoma | - | - | can likely decrease | #1 |
specific prostanoid agonists and fenofibrates | decrease | melanogenesis | - | - | may reduce | #2 |
melatonin | decrease | melanogenesis | - | - | is a potent melanogenesis suppressor | #3 |
melatonin | decrease | oxidative stress | - | - | is a potent ... antioxidant | #4 |
melatonin | decrease | blood pressure / ocular pressure | - | - | is a potent ... hypotensive agent | #5 |
melatonin | neutral | pseudoexfoliative glaucoma | - | - | may offer adjunct therapeutic benefits | #6 |
Glaucoma is a heterogeneous group of progressive diseases that leads to irreversible blindness. Secondary glaucoma refers to glaucoma caused by a known underlying condition. Pseudoexfoliation and pigment dispersion syndromes are common causes of secondary glaucoma. Their respective deposits may obstruct the trabecular meshwork, leading to aqueous humor outflow resistance, ocular hypertension, and optic neuropathy. There are no disease-specific interventions available for either. Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is characterized by fibrillar deposits (pseudoexfoliative material) on anterior segment structures. Over a decade of multiomics analyses taken together with the current knowledge on pseudoexfoliative glaucoma warrant a re-think of mechanistic possibilities. We propose that the presence of nucleation centers (e.g., vitamin D binding protein), crosslinking enzymes (e.g., transglutaminase 2), aberrant extracellular matrix, flawed endocytosis, and abnormal aqueous-blood barrier contribute to the formation of proteolytically resistant pseudoexfoliative material. Pigment dispersion syndrome is characterized by abnormal iridolenticular contact that disrupts iris pigment epithelium and liberates melanin granules. Iris melanogenesis is aberrant in this condition. Cytotoxic melanogenesis intermediates leak out of melanosomes and cause iris melanocyte and pigment epithelium cell death. Targeting melanogenesis can likely decrease the risk of pigmentary glaucoma. Skin and melanoma research provides insights into potential therapeutics. We propose that specific prostanoid agonists and fenofibrates may reduce melanogenesis by inhibiting cholesterol internalization and de novo synthesis. Additionally, melatonin is a potent melanogenesis suppressor, antioxidant, and hypotensive agent, rendering it a valuable agent for pigmentary glaucoma. In pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, where environmental insults drive pseudoexfoliative material formation, melatonin's antioxidant and hypotensive properties may offer adjunct therapeutic benefits. This article is categorized under: Neurological Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.