AIM: To investigate the relationships between the changes of heat shock protein 27 antibody(anti-HSP27) in serum/cerebrospinal fluid(CSF), intraocular pressure(IOP), retinal ganglion cell(RGC) apoptosis in a rat glaucoma model and disclose the underlying pathogenesis of glaucoma.METHODS: A total of 115 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group 1 was the ocular hypertension group by condensing 3 episcleral & limbal veins or episcleral area of right eye(HP group, n=25) and sham operation group with conjunctiva incision without coagulation(n=25). Group 2: HSP27 or dose-matched PBS was injected into the vitreous(V-HSP27 group, n=15;V-PBS group, n=15). Group 3: HSP27 and complete Freund's adjuvant or dosematched PBS was injected subcutaneously into the hind limb accompanied intraperitoneal injection of pertussis toxin [sensitized group(I-HSP27 group), n=15;I-PBS group, n=15)]. Group 4 was normal group without any treatment(n=5). IOPs of the rats were measured before, day 3, weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 after treatment. Paraffin-embedded sections were prepared for HE staining and RGCs apoptosis were detected by TUNEL. Anti-HSP27 level in serum and CSF were examined by ELISA. RESULTS: IOPs were elevated significantly in HP and V-HSP27, V-PBS groups(P<0.01) and positively related to anti-HSP27 levels in serum and CSFs. Anti-HSP27 levels in serum and CSF were elevated significantly in I-HSP27group compared to other groups(P<0.05). However, the IOPs did not show any relationship with the high-level antiHSP27 in serum and CSFs. RGC apoptosis were all elevated significantly in the HP, V-HSP27, V-PBS and I-HSP27 groups and also positively relative with anti-HSP27 level in serum and CSFs except that high-level of anti-HSP27 in the serum of I-HSP group.CONCLUSION: The increases of anti-HSP27 levels in serum and CSFs both promote IOP escalation and the increase of RGC apoptosis in retina when anti-HSP27 is at low level. The case of high-level anti-HSP27 is opposite and shows protective function in preventing IOP increase
Wei ZhaoLe DaiXiao-Ting XiQian-Bo ChenMei-Xia AnYan Li
