Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42464205›Full record

ArticleBMC ophthalmology2026

Ultrastructural characteristics of the trabecular meshwork in primary open-angle glaucoma versus chronic angle-closure glaucoma: a comparative study.

Zhiqiao Liang, Kuankuan Wu, Ye Lu, Fengrui Yang, Kun Lv, Huichao Yan, Yanan Hu, Huijuan Wu

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC ophthalmology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Zhiqiao LiangDepartment of OphthalmologyPeking University People's Hospital, Eye diseases and optometry Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, College of Optometry, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China.
Kuankuan WuDepartment of OphthalmologyPeking University People's Hospital, Eye diseases and optometry Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, College of Optometry, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China.
Ye LuDepartment of OphthalmologyPeking University People's Hospital, Eye diseases and optometry Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, College of Optometry, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China.
Fengrui YangDepartment of OphthalmologyPeking University People's Hospital, Eye diseases and optometry Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, College of Optometry, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China.
Kun LvDepartment of OphthalmologyPeking University People's Hospital, Eye diseases and optometry Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, College of Optometry, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China.
Huichao YanDepartment of OphthalmologyPeking University People's Hospital, Eye diseases and optometry Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, College of Optometry, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China.
Yanan HuElectron Microscope Lab, Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China.
Huijuan WuDepartment of OphthalmologyPeking University People's Hospital, Eye diseases and optometry Institute, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, College of Optometry, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China. dr_wuhuijuan@126.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3349-986X

Funding

Peking University People's Hospital Research and Development Fund RDE2025-08the Capital's Funds for Health Improvement and Research 2024-2-4087the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing L258058the Peking University People's Hospital Research and Development Funds RDGS2024-06
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe trabecular meshwork (TM), the principal site of aqueous humor outflow resistance, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP), the key modifiable risk factor for glaucoma. This study aimed to compare the ultrastructural characteristics of the TM in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and chronic angle-closure glaucoma (CACG) using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

methodsTM specimens were obtained via Kahook Dual Blade goniotomy from 11 POAG and 9 CACG patients and processed for TEM analysis. We evaluated cellular morphology, extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, and collagen fibril architecture (using Feret's diameter). A novel Organelle Severity Index (OSI) was introduced to semi-quantitatively evaluate the cumulative burden of subcellular stress, and clinico-pathological correlations were analyzed.

resultsBoth POAG and CACG samples exhibited a markedly sparse TM cellularity. Residual cells demonstrated profound subcellular stress, including swollen mitochondria with loss of cristae and accumulation of secondary lysosomes. OSI scores were comparably high in POAG and CACG (1.69 vs. 1.63, P = 0.866), with no significant linear correlations to preoperative macroscopic clinical metrics (all P > 0.05). ECM alterations in both groups included trabecular beam fusion and TM cells abnormally migrating across fractured beams. Quantitatively, collagen fibrils were significantly larger in CACG compared to POAG (60.27 ± 12.97 nm vs. 43.61 ± 8.62 nm, P = 0.018).

conclusionSurgical-stage POAG and CACG share a "final common pathway" of severe TM cellular reduction and structural disruption. However, their distinct collagen fibril architectures suggest divergent ECM remodeling pathways that may contribute to subtype-specific outflow resistance and disease mechanisms.

Indexed as

Glaucoma, Angle-ClosureGlaucoma, Open-AngleTrabecular MeshworkAgedChronic DiseaseExtracellular MatrixFemaleHumansIntraocular PressureMaleMicroscopy, Electron, TransmissionMiddle AgedChronic angle-closure glaucomaPrimary open-angle glaucomaTrabecular meshworkTransmission electron microscopyUltrastructure

Identifiers

PMID42464205
PMCPMC13428420

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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.