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Full NameProfessor Colm O'Brien
- Other
Opthalmology
- Ophthalmology
The lab explores the role of lamina cribrosa (LC) cells in the ECM remodelling of the LC in glaucoma. Even in the ex-vivo cell culture environment, glaucoma LC cells show a pro-fibrotic pattern of ECM gene production, and epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation. Demonstrating expression of the myofibroblast phenotype marker alpha-SMA, we have investigated how these cells respond to glaucoma like stimuli such as TGF beta, cyclic stretch and hypoxia. These cells also have markers of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and raised intracellular cytosolic calcium and signalling pathways eg the NFAT/calcineurin pathway. They have mechano-sensitive ion channels such as the maxi-k and L-type calcium channels. Currently we are looking at other mechano-sensitive mechanism such as integrins and substrate stiffness. To date, we have supervised over 40 post-graduate student thesis degrees (PhD, MD, MSc) to completion.