Cydney Wong
BME PhD Proposal Presentation
Date: 2023-11-09
Time: 12:30 PM-2:30 PM
Location / Meeting Link: IBB Suddath Seminar Room 1128 / https://gatech.zoom.us/j/97085979453?pwd=MTN4YnlWMDNoU0Vsa3FXckduWkRCQT09
Committee Members:
C. Ross Ethier, PhD (Advisor); Andrew Feola, PhD; Levi Wood, PhD; Todd Sulchek, PhD, Edward Botchwey, PhD, W. Daniel Stamer, PhD
Title: Biomechanical and Transcriptional Analysis of Segmental Outflow in Glaucoma
Abstract:
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. This disease is often associated with increased resistance to aqueous humor outflow from the eye, causing an increase in intraocular pressure that gradually damages the optic nerve. The trabecular meshwork (TM) is the main tissue implicated in outflow dysfunction in primary open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of glaucoma, and increased TM stiffness has been associated with high intraocular pressure. Outflow through the TM is segmental, meaning there are areas of high and low flow throughout the tissue. The causes of segmental flow are unknown but likely important since glaucomatous eyes display more variations in outflow compared to healthy eyes. Additionally, in human glaucomatous eyes, low flow regions of the TM are stiffer than high flow regions. Our limited understanding of the mechanisms and causes of segmental outflow is a significant knowledge gap. We propose to investigate this area by characterizing mRNA expression profiles in high flow and low flow regions of the TM in healthy mice and correlating these profiles with differences in tissue stiffness. We will also utilize an ocular hypertensive mouse model to better understand how segmental flow regions change with disease. We expect that low flow regions will have higher stiffnesses and differential expression of glaucoma-related and matrix-related genes. The proposed research will provide insights into the pathogenesis of ocular hypertension in glaucoma, which could enable the development of more targeted and effective therapeutics.