Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41692493›Full record

ArticleBMJ open ophthalmology2026

Effects of ascorbic acid on trabecular meshwork gene expression and collagen secretion.

Paul Holden, Yong-Feng Yang, Ying Ying Sun, Kate Keller

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open ophthalmology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Paul HoldenOphthalmology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
Yong-Feng YangOphthalmology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
Ying Ying SunOphthalmology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
Kate KellerOphthalmology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA gregorka@ohsu.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1616-972X

Funding

Proteomics CoreP30EY010572 · NEI · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · PI John Peter Campbell · 1995 to 2026
$19.4M
Extracellular Matrix and Outflow ResistanceR01EY019643 · NEI · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · PI KELLER, KATE E · 2010 to 2025
$5.0M
Thrombospondin-1 in normal and glaucomatous trabecular meshworkR01EY032590 · NEI · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · PI KELLER, KATE E · 2022 to 2025
$1.6M
NEI NIH HHS P30 EY010572NEI NIH HHS R01 EY019643NEI NIH HHS R01 EY032590
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveAqueous humour (AH) contains relatively high concentrations of vitamin C (ascorbate). AH drains out of the anterior chamber through the trabecular meshwork (TM) and, therefore, TM cells in vivo are routinely bathed in this antioxidant. Yet, most TM cells are cultured in vitro in media without ascorbate. In this study, we investigated molecules expressed by TM cells cultured with and without ascorbate. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Non-glaucomatous TM cell strains were grown to confluence and placed in serum-free media with or without 0.1 mM ascorbate for 3 days. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and western blotting were used to investigate protein levels, and some bands were analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) mass spectrometry. RNA was isolated and gene expression was quantified using fluorescent barcode technology. Following data normalisation, bioinformatics software was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Quantitative PCR was used to validate results.

resultsIn ascorbate-treated cells, western immunoblotting showed that several collagen chains were properly modified and secreted and LC-MS/MS identified proteins. Gene expression showed that 76 genes were significantly upregulated, and 20 genes were downregulated. Not surprisingly, antioxidative stress genes (

conclusionsThis study revealed several collagens and 96 genes that are regulated by ascorbate in TM cells. Our results establish the importance of including ascorbate in culture media during the in vitro culture of TM cells. Further analysis of the function of these genes may improve our understanding of the importance of ascorbate for TM cell health.

Indexed as

Ascorbic AcidCollagenGene Expression RegulationTrabecular MeshworkAnimalsAntioxidantsBlotting, WesternCells, CulturedChromatography, LiquidElectrophoresis, Polyacrylamide GelHumansTandem Mass SpectrometryAntioxidantsAscorbic AcidCollagenAnterior chamberBiochemistryGlaucomaIntraocular pressureOcular Hypertension

Identifiers

PMID41692493
PMCPMC12911703

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.