Protein Misfolding and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Glaucoma

Arunkumar Venkatesan^1*Audrey Bernstein^1,2*

• ¹Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, United States
• ²Syracuse VA Medical Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Syracuse, New York, United States

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) caused by restricted outflow of the aqueous humor (AH) leads to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons. Emerging evidence suggests that pathological mechanisms relating to protein folding and mitochondrial dysfunction are significant factors in the disease onset of different types of open-angle glaucoma. In this review, we discuss these defects in three distinct types of open-angle glaucoma: primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), normal tension glaucoma (NTG), and exfoliation glaucoma (XFG). Genetic mutations linked to the previously mentioned open-angle glaucoma, including those in myocilin (MYOC), optineurin (OPTN), and lysyl oxidase 1 (LOXL1), disrupt protein folding and homeostasis, leading to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), and impaired autophagic protein degradation. These factors contribute to trabecular meshwork (TM) and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) apoptosis. In addition to protein folding defects, mitochondrial dysfunction is also associated with the progression of TM damage and the death of RGCs. Factors such as oxidative stress, an altered mitochondrial fission-fusion balance, and mitophagy dysregulation make RGCs vulnerable and contribute to optic nerve degeneration. The crosstalk between protein folding and mitochondrial defects in glaucoma underscores the complexity of disease pathogenesis and offers potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Strategies aimed at restoring protein homeostasis, enhancing mitochondrial function, and mitigating cellular stress responses hold promise for neuroprotection in glaucoma.