Abstract:

ROCK signaling is clearly involved in a multitude of pathways, which are still mostly undiscovered in the injured/diseased CNS, thereby contributing to many pathological features, which prompts this kinase as a central target for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, such as glaucoma. It is increasingly recognized that strategies that aim to repair the functional connections following injury/lesions should attempt to target multiple pathways. ROCK inhibition or ROCK knockdown strategies clearly enables the stimulation of several repair processes and seems therefore, albeit in combination with other (growth)factors, a potential therapy for the treatment of this degenerative disease. Hence, it remains important to profoundly understand the pathological pathways and mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration and the restricted regeneration as it exists in the adult mammalian CNS. Interestingly, recent advances in the field have resulted in the identification and characterization of multiple novel candidate molecules/treatments able to support or induce processes related to neuroprotection and/or regeneration. Novel studies should consider these recent discoveries to create the best complementary combinatorial approach focusing on e.g., intrinsic growth stimulation with neutralization of glia/myelin-associated growth inhibitory factors, in order to obtain sufficient and proper regenerating axons in the brain target areas, thereby ultimately restoring functional connections. ROCK inhibition might as such be a versatile strategic partner in the search for novel treatment strategies for glaucoma, yet also for other neurodegenerative disorders.