In Vitro Study of Human Tenon's Capsule Fibroblasts from Various Types of Glaucoma A pilot study: comparative with pediatric and cataract patients

Ngamkae Roengvoravate, M.D.*
Edward N. Burney, M.D.**
* Department of Ophthalmology, Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
** Department of Ophthalmology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

ABSTRACT : The proliferation of fibroblasts and production of collagen contribute to the failure of glaucoma filtration surgery. The rate of filtration failure varies according to the type of glaucoma. Therefore, the authors studied the proliferation and protein synthesis on cultured human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (CHTCF) harvested from various types of glaucoma.

IffCF from most of the glaucoma patients had the same proliferative rate as that from control cataract patients, but they had a significantly higher protein synthesis, especially in cell-secreted protein. The high level of protein synthesis was similar to that from ~CF from pediatrics. These results suggest that there may be external factors which enhance metabolic activity of fibroblasts in glaucoma patients.