Latanoprost therapy reduces the levels of TGF beta 1 and gelatinases in the aqueous humour of patients with exfoliative glaucoma

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of latanoprost monotherapy on the aqueous humour concentrations of TGF-β1, MMP-2, TIMP-2, MMP-9 and gelatinolytic activity in patients treated for exfoliative glaucoma (XFG). Aqueous samples from 50 XFG patients treated with latanoprost and 50 age-matched XFG patients treated with timolol were collected during phacoemulsification cataract surgery. The concentrations of TGF-β1, MMP-2, TIMP-2, MMP-9 and gelatinase activity were determined by commercial immunoassays. The mean active TGF-β1 concentration in the aqueous was significantly lower in XFG patients treated with latanoprost compared with those treated with timolol (3.1±0.65 vs 13.4±1.5 pg ml−1); (P=0.0014). The mean total MMP-2 concentration was lower in latanoprost treated patients (31.75±3.8 vs 81.5±7.2 ng ml−1); (P<0.0001). The TIMP-2 concentration was also lower in XFG-latanoprost treated patients (73.8±6.81 vs 101.28±7.29 ng ml−1); (P=0.0096). Latanoprost monotherapy has a marked effect on the aqueous concentration of TGF-β1, MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in XFG patients. A better understanding of its effect on the pathobiology of the disease may lead to its earlier use in the disease process to prevent progression from XFS to XFG.