Network Analysis of Primary Optic Nerves Astrocytes in Human Glaucoma

2 Background. Astrocyte activation is a characteristic response to injury in the central nervous system, and can be either neurotoxic or neuroprotective, while the regulation of both roles remains elusive. Methods. To decipher the regulatory elements controlling astrocyte-mediated neurotoxicity in glaucoma, we conducted a systems-level functional analysis of gene expression, proteomic and genetic data associated with reactive optic nerve head astrocytes (ONHAs). Results. Our reconstruction of the molecular interactions affected by glaucoma revealed multi-domain biological networks controlling re-activation of ONHAs at the level of intercellular stimuli, intracellular signaling and core effect. The analysis revealed that synergistic action of the transcriptio