Human optic nerve head astrocytes as a target for endothelin-1.

Abstract

ET-1 induces astroglial proliferation in cultured human optic nerve head astrocytes through ET(A/B) receptor activation. This is similar to the proliferation of ET-1 in brain astrocytes. These findings suggest that ET-1, which is elevated in glaucoma, could cause proliferation of ONAs in the optic nerve head.