Uveitic glaucoma-like features in Yap conditional knockout mice

This study describes a conditional knockout (cKO) mouse model for studying uveitic glaucoma. Researchers deleted the Yap gene in the non-pigmented epithelium of the ciliary body and in Müller glial cells. The study found that Yap cKO mice develop a phenotype resembling uveitic glaucoma. In the anterior chamber, early breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier and ciliary body collapse occur, worsening with age. In the neuroretina, early vascular defects, optic nerve head deformation, and Müller cell dysfunction (e.g., impaired glutamate recycling) are observed. At advanced ages, reactive gliosis and retinal ganglion cell loss occur. The authors note that the model's pathology parallels human uveitic glaucoma but has limitations, including the inability to attribute specific defects to a single cell type and variable intraocular pressure measurements.