Does laser trabeculoplasty induce stromelysin expression by trabecular juxtacanalicular cells?
A stromelysin increase, localized primarily to the juxtacanalicular region of the meshwork, the putative site of the aqueous humor outflow resistance, should degrade trabecular proteoglycans, the putative outflow resistance source, and allow their uptake and further degradation by the juxtacanalicular cells. If diminished juxtacanalicular extracellular matrix turnover is responsible for the glaucomatous reduction in aqueous humor outflow, an increase in stromelysin in this specific area of the meshwork should ameliorate the problem. Thus, the observations support the working hypothesis and may explain the efficacy of this treatment for glaucoma.
These findings strongly suggest that the remarkable efficacy of IP PTX in the treatment of peritoneal metastases is, at least in part, dependent on the destruction of peripheral microvessels by exposure to infiltrated PTX.