Glaucoma & Neurodegeneration

A group of ocular disorders united by a clinically characteristic optic neuropathy with potentially progressive, clinically visible changes at the optic nerve head

• Focal or generalized thinning of the neuroretinal rim
• Excavation and enlargement of the optic cup
• Visual field loss may not be detectable in early stages and while visual acuity is initially spared, progression can lead to complete loss of vision   
• Open-angle (>90% of all cases) or angle-closure subtypes 
• Known risk factors for Primary open angle glaucoma
  • Age (> 60 y/o)
  • African American or Hispanic/Latino ethnicity
  • Family History
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Elevated intraocular pressure

BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH PROGRAMS

  Evan B. Stubbs, Jr. Ph.D. 

  Research Health Scientist (Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital)

  Professor (Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Campus)

  Vice Chair for Research, Dept. of Ophthalmology

Research interests: Elucidating the mechanism(s) responsible for the development and progression of  glaucomatous optic neuropathies, immune-mediated peripheral neuropathies, and diabetic neuropathies.

Glaucomatous Optic Neuropathy

• Rao VR and Stubbs Jr. EB. TGF-β2 promotes oxidative stress in human trabecular meshwork cells by selectively enhancing NADPH Oxidase 4 expression. Submitted, 2021
• Ghosh AK, Rao VR, Wisniewski VJ, Zigrossi AD, Floss J, Koulen P, Stubbs Jr. EB, Kaja S. Differential activation of glioprotective intracellular signaling pathways in primary optic nerve head astrocytes after treatment with different classes of antioxidant. Antioxidants 2020: 9, 324; doi:10.3390/antiox9040324.
• Rao VR, Lautz JD, Foecking EM, Lukacs EA, Kaja S., Stubbs Jr. EB. Mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants attenuate TGF-β2 canonical signaling in human trabecular meshwork cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2019: 60;3613-3624. Doi:10.1167/iovs.19-27542.
• Keller KE, Bhattacharya SK,… Stubbs Jr. EB., …. Stamer WD. Consensus recommendations for trabecular meshwork cell isolation, characterization and culture. Eye Res. 2018: pii: S0014-4835(18)30153-2. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2018.03.001.
• Stubbs Jr. EB. Isoprenylation of monomeric GTPases in human trabecular meshwork cells. Methods Mol Biol. 2017: 1609;217-229. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6996-8_18.

Immune-Mediated Peripheral Neuropathy

• Stubbs Jr. EB. Targeting the blood-nerve barrier for the management of immune-mediated peripheral neuropathies. Exp. Neurology Doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113385.
• Langert KA, Goshu B, Stubbs Jr. EB. Attenuation of experimental autoimmune neuritis with locally administered lovastatin-encapsulating PLGA nanoparticles. Neurochem. 2017: 140;334-346.
• Langert KA, Pervan CL, and Stubbs Jr. EB. Novel role of Cdc42 and RalA GTPases in tumor necrosis factor-α mediated secretion of CCL2. Small GTPases 2014:5; doi:10.4161/sgtp.29260.
• Langert KA, Von Zee CL, and Stubbs Jr. EB. Cdc42 GTPases facilitate Tumor Necrosis Factor-α mediated secretion of CCL2 from peripheral nerve microvascular endoneurial endothelial cells. Perph. Nerv. System 2013, 18(3):199-208.

Diabetic Neuropathy

• Stubbs Jr. EB., Fisher MA, Miller CM, Jelinek C, Butler J, McBurney C, Collins EG. Randomized controlled trial of physical exercise in diabetic Veterans with length-dependent distal symmetric polyneuropathy. Frontiers in Neuroscience (minor revisions, 2018)
• Shankarappa SA, Piedras-Rentería, ES, Stubbs Jr. EB. Forced-exercise delays neuropathic pain in experimental diabetes: Effects on voltage-gated calcium channels. Neurochem. 2011:118; 224-236.

Additional Significant Contributions

• Calik MW, Shankarappa SA, Langert KA, Stubbs Jr. EB. Forced-exercise preconditioning attenuates experimental autoimmune neuritis by altering T_h1 lymphocyte composition and egress. ASN Neuro 2015, July-August:1-11.
• Emerick AJ, Richards MP, Kartje GL, Neafsey EJ, Stubbs Jr. EB. Experimental diabetes attenuates cerebral cortical-evoked forelimb motor responses. Diabetes 2005:54;2764-2771.
• Lawlor MA, Richards MP, De Vries GH, Fisher MA, Stubbs Jr. EB. Antibodies to L-periaxin in sera of patients with peripheral neuropathy produce experimental sensory nerve conduction deficits. Neurochem. 2002;83:592-600.
• Pardue MT, Stubbs Jr. EB, Perlman JI, Narfstrom K, Chow AY, and Peachey NS. Subretinal implantation of semiconductor-based photodiodes. Immunohistochemical analysis of the retina following long-term implantation. Eye Res. 2001;73:333-343.

  Simon Kaja, Ph.D. 

  Assistant Professor (Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Campus)

  Dr. John P. and Therese E. Mulcahy Endowed Professor, Dept. of

  Ophthalmology

  Research Health Scientist (Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital)

Research interests: Cytoprotective strategies for ocular disorders, with a particular focus on  neuroprotective and glioprotective approaches for glaucoma and related diseases characterized by  reactive astrocytosis and retinal ganglion cell loss.  Exfoliation glaucoma, dry eye disease, all things  entrepreneurial.   

• Ghosh AK, Rao VR, Wisniewski VJ, Zigrossi AD, Floss J, Koulen P, Stubbs EB Jr., Kaja S. Differential Activation of Glioprotective Intracellular Signaling Pathways in Primary Optic Nerve Head Astrocytes after Treatment with Different Classes of Antioxidants. Antioxidants, 2020; 9(4): 324. PMCID: PMC7222350
• Rao VR, Lautz JD, Kaja S, Foecking EM, Lukács E, Stubbs EB Jr. Mitochondrial-Targeted Antioxidants Attenuate TGF-β2 Signaling in Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 60: 3619-3624.
• Kaja S, Payne AJ, Patel KR, Naumchuk N, Koulen P. Differential subcellular Ca2+ signaling in a highly specialized subpopulation of astrocytes. Experimental Neurology 2015, 265: 59-68
• Maciulaitiene R, Pakuliene G, Kaja S, Pauza DH, Kalesnykas G, Januleviciene I. Glioprotection of Retinal Astrocytes After Intravitreal Administration of Memantine in the Mouse Optic Nerve Crush Model. Med Sci Monit 2017; 23: 1173-79.
• Kaja S, Naumchuk Y, Grillo SL, Borden PK, Koulen P. Differential up-regulation of Vesl-1/Homer 1 protein isoforms associated with decline in visual performance in a preclinical glaucoma model. Vision Research. 2014, 94C:16-23.
• Kaja S, Mafe OA, Parikh RA, Kandula P, Reddy CA, Gregg EV, Xin H, Mitchell P, Grillo MA, Koulen P. Distribution and function of polycystin-2 in mouse retinal ganglion cells. Neuroscience 2012, 202:99-107.
• Burroughs SL, Kaja S, Koulen P. Quantification of deficits in spatial visual function of mouse models for glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011;52(6):3654-9.

CLINICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS

  Meenakshi Chaku, M.D. 

  Associate Professor (Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Campus)

  Director, Glaucoma Service, Dept. of Ophthalmology

Research interests: MIGS, Normal tension glaucoma,  clinical outcomes research

• Chaku M, Bajwa A, Lee JK, Netland PA. Treatment of Uveitis and Outcomes of Glaucoma Drainage Implant Surgery: A Meta- Analysis. Ocular Immunology and Inflammation. 2020 July; 28(5): 833-838. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2019.1629602. PMID: 31418636.
• Chaku M, Netland PA, Ishida K, Rhee DJ. Risk factors for tube exposure as a late complication of glaucoma drainage implant surgery. Clinical Ophthalmology. 2016; 10: 547-553. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S104029. PMCID: PMC4820194.
• Wong M, Desai M, Chaku, M. Aqueous Misdirection. EyeWiki http://eyewiki.aao.org/Aqueous_misdirection, Sept 2012.
• Desai M, Stallwood C, Chaku M. Plateau Iris. EyeWiki http://eyewiki.aao.org/Plateau_Iris, July 2012.