The present study investigates the role of TGF-β1 as one of possible etiologic factors of glaucoma by studying the effect of TGF-β1 on the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase. The cultured samples of trabecular meshwork cells were treated with TGF-β1 in
concentrations of 0, 100, 1000 and 10000 pg/ml. The samples were analysed for the secretion of MMP2 and timp2 through electrophoresis, western blot and TGF-β1 increased, the secretions of MMP2 and TIMP2 were not significantly changed after 24 hours. But the secretion of MMP2 was decreased while the secretion of TIMP2 was increased after 72 hours. The results suggest that TGF-
β1 may be one of the etilogic factors of glaucoma(J Korean Ophthamol Soc 38:406~412, 1997).