PMC:2792620 / 37830-38629 JSONTXT

{"project":"2_test","denotations":[{"id":"20040958-12027563-47224510","span":{"begin":792,"end":795},"obj":"12027563"},{"id":"20040958-15304547-47224511","span":{"begin":792,"end":798},"obj":"15304547"},{"id":"T56657","span":{"begin":792,"end":795},"obj":"12027563"},{"id":"T43251","span":{"begin":792,"end":798},"obj":"15304547"}],"text":"Caspase inhibitors\nGene therapy represents an attractive approach for the treatment of eye diseases such as glaucoma. Inhibitors of apoptosis protein (IAP) can also reduce apoptosis by inhibiting caspase. Ocular administration of viral vectors produces localized retinal gene expression with reduced risks of side effects reported with systemic administration of viral vectors. Rats were given unilateral intravitreal injections of AAV-CBA vector coding for human baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein-4 (BIRC4), a potent caspase inhibitor. Gene therapy delivering BIRC4 significantly promoted optic nerve axon survival in a chronic ocular hypertensive model of rat glaucoma. Blocking RGC apoptosis with caspase inhibitors represents a promising approach for treatment of human glaucoma.[107108]"}