VEGFA and glaucoma: Activation, through phosphorylation, of p38 MAPK, and downstream Hsp27 are associated with stress signaling, and contribute to axon transport deficits and pathology of both mouse and rat models of glaucoma.32, 33 Conversely, inhibition of p38 activation can prevent these transport losses.10 Following VEGF-A neutralization, we found strong expression of both phosphorylated p38 MAPK and Hsp27 throughout the inner retina.