Emerging Evidence of Noncoding RNAs in Bleb Scarring after Glaucoma Filtration Surgery.

PURPOSE: To conduct a narrative review of research articles on the potential anti- and pro-fibrotic mechanisms of noncoding RNAs following glaucoma filtration surgery.

METHODS

Keyword searches of PubMed, and Medline databases were conducted for articles discussing post-glaucoma filtration surgeries and noncoding RNA. Additional manual searches of reference lists of primary articles were performed.

RESULTS

Fifteen primary research articles were identified. Four of the included papers used microarrays and qRT-PCR to identify up- or down-regulated microRNA (miRNA, miR) profiles and direct further study, with the remainder focusing on miRNAs or long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) based on previous work in other organs or disease processes. The results of the reviewed papers identified miR-26a, -29b, -139, -155, and -200a as having anti-fibrotic effects. In contrast, miRs-200b and -216b may play pro-fibrotic roles in filtration surgery fibrosis. lncRNAs including H19, NR003923, and 00028 have demonstrated pro-fibrotic effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Noncoding RNAs including miRNAs and lncRNAs are emerging and promising therapeutic targets in the prevention of post-glaucoma filtration surgery fibrosis.