Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Bum Jun Kim, Daryl A. Scott
Summary: RERE plays a crucial role in controlling apoptosis of retinal cells and its deficiency leads to retinal atrophy and optic nerve degeneration. RERE-deficient mice exhibit reduced number of retinal ganglion cells and progressive loss of retinal cells, particularly in the ganglion cell layer.
DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sotaro Mori, Takuji Kurimoto, Hidetaka Maeda, Makoto Nakamura
Summary: This study demonstrated that DMF promotes the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after optic nerve crush (ONC) by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. It increased the density of TUBB3-positive RGCs and the amplitude of the pSTR, and upregulated Nrf2 and HO-1 expression in RGCs, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for RGC survival after injury.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ling-Ping Cen, Tsz Kin Ng, Jia-Jian Liang, Ciyan Xu, Xi Zhuang, Yu-Fen Liu, Shao-Lang Chen, Yanxuan Xu, Qichen Yang, Xiang-Ling Yuan, Yong Jie Qin, Sun On Chan, Haoyu Chen, Mingzhi Zhang, Andrew V. Schally, Chi Pui Pang
Summary: The study demonstrated that both agonists and antagonists of GHRH could promote the survival of RGCs through increasing Akt phosphorylation and regulating the expression of inflammation-related genes. GHRH analogs not only have a protective effect on RGCs after optic nerve injury, but also enhance the activation of macrophages.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Tonking Bastola, Guy A. Perkins, Keun-Young Kim, Seunghwan Choi, Jin-Woo Kwon, Ziyao Shen, Stefan Strack, Won-Kyu Ju
Summary: AKAP1 is a multifunctional mitochondrial scaffold protein that regulates mitochondrial dynamics, bioenergetics, and calcium homeostasis. Loss of AKAP1 leads to mitochondrial fragmentation and loss of retinal ganglion cells. Modulation of AKAP1 could be a potential therapeutic target for glaucoma and other mitochondria-associated optic neuropathies.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fa Yuan, Mingwei Wang, Kangxin Jin, Mengqing Xiang
Summary: The text discusses the pathogenesis of glaucoma and the characteristics of RGCs, highlighting the differences in regenerative abilities post-injury and the latest research findings. It proposes potential directions for future therapeutics in treating neurodegenerative diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Ophthalmology
Jing Zhao, Graydon B. Gonsalvez, Barbara A. Mysona, Sylvia B. Smith, Kathryn E. Bollinger
Summary: In this study, the absence of S1R within optic nerve head astrocytes was found to have a negative effect on the growth and survival of retinal ganglion cells. The data suggest that S1R may enhance ganglion cell survival via glia-mediated mechanisms.
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ophthalmology
Lingyi Ouyang, Tao He, Yiqiao Xing
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Park7 on the survival and function of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) following optic nerve crush (ONC) in mice, as well as its underlying mechanism. The results showed that downregulation of Park7 exacerbated RGC injury and impaired retinal electrophysiological response and optomotor response. The study found that Park7 may exert neuroprotective effects via the Keap1-Nrf2-HO-1 signaling pathway, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target for optic neuropathy.
GRAEFES ARCHIVE FOR CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Ben Mead, Alicia Kerr, Naoki Nakaya, Stanislav I. Tomarev
Summary: This study aimed to characterize the miRNA profile of purified retinal ganglion cells (RGC) from healthy and diseased rat retina. Over 100 different miRNAs were identified in diseased retina compared to healthy retina. Manipulating candidate mRNAs after retinal injury revealed significant neuroprotection and neuritogenesis effects in RGC.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Giovanni Luca Romano, Lucia Gozzo, Oriana Maria Maurel, Serena Di Martino, Valentina Riolo, Vincenzo Micale, Filippo Drago, Claudio Bucolo
Summary: The topical ocular administration of FLX was found to have a neuroprotective effect in a mouse model of acute retinal damage, as it counteracted the damage of retinal ganglion cells and preserved retinal function. FLX treatment also reduced the production of pro-inflammatory molecules elicited by retinal injury. Further studies are needed to support the use of FLX as a neuroprotective agent in retinal degenerative diseases.
Review
Cell Biology
Nicole A. Muench, Sonia Patel, Margaret E. Maes, Ryan J. Donahue, Akihiro Ikeda, Robert W. Nickells
Summary: Mitochondrial function and dysfunction play important roles in neurodegeneration, especially in RGCs which are highly vulnerable due to their unique structure. Glaucoma represents a combination of events at the optic nerve head that increase metabolic stress on RGC axons, leading to axonal transport failure. Additionally, RGCs are sensitive to genetic mutations affecting mitochondrial dynamics and clearance, often resulting in optic neuropathy as the sole pathological defect.
Article
Immunology
Zi-Yuan Zhang, Zhao-Yang Zuo, Yang Liang, Si-Ming Zhang, Chun-Xia Zhang, Jing Chi, Bin Fan, Guang-Yu Li
Summary: This study identifies CXCL2, an inflammatory factor, as a key regulator in the axon regeneration and neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The researchers performed transcriptome RNA sequencing to analyze the differentially expressed genes in STS-induced axon regeneration and found that CXCL2 was significantly upregulated. Further experiments in animal models confirmed that intravitreal injection of rCXCL2 promoted axon regeneration and improved RGC survival.
INFLAMMATION AND REGENERATION
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yi-Fen Lai, Ting-Yi Lin, Pin-Kuan Ho, Yi-Hao Chen, Yu-Chuan Huang, Da-Wen Lu
Summary: In this review, the neuroprotective function of erythropoietin (EPO) in extra-hematopoietic tissues, especially the retina, is highlighted. The available pre-clinical studies of EPO in treating various optic neuropathies are summarized. Furthermore, future strategies for optic nerve protection and repair using EPO and its derivatives are explored.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Yaqiong An, Haibo Li, Mengxiao Wang, Zhaohua Xia, Lexi Ding, Xiaobo Xia
Summary: This study investigates the protective effect of tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) against glutamate excitotoxicity-induced retinal cell damage. It suggests that TBHQ activates the Nrf2 signaling pathway, reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, and inhibits NF-Kappa B activation.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sven Schnichels, Maximilian Schultheiss, Patricia Klemm, Matthias Blak, Thoralf Herrmann, Marion Melchinger, Karl-Ulrich Bartz-Schmidt, Marina Loescher, Guenther Zeck, Martin Stehphan Spitzer, Jose Hurst
Summary: This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of Cyclosporine A (CsA) on rat retinas, showing that a concentration of 9 μg/mL CsA had significant neuroprotective effects on retinal ganglion cells under hypoxic conditions without negative effects. Further in vivo studies are warranted to explore the potential of local CsA treatment for hypoxic retinal diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Jonathan R. Soucy, Erika A. Aguzzi, Julie Cho, Michael James Gilhooley, Casey Keuthan, Ziming Luo, Aboozar Monavarfeshani, Meher A. Saleem, Xue-Wei Wang, Juilette Wohlschlegel, Petr Baranov, Adriana Di Polo, Brad Fortune, Kimberly K. Gokoffski, Jeffrey L. Goldberg, William Guido, Alex L. Kolodkin, Carol A. Mason, Yvonne Ou, Thomas A. Reh, Ahmara G. Ross, Brian C. Samuels, Derek Welsbie, Donald J. Zack, Thomas V. Johnson
Summary: This article discusses the key questions and challenges in restoring vision through RGC repopulation and proposes a multidisciplinary approach to advance the field. The efforts of the RReSTORe Consortium provide a comprehensive roadmap for treating patients with optic neuropathies.
MOLECULAR NEURODEGENERATION
(2023)