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Calcineurin activation causes retinal ganglion cell degeneration.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Qu, J; Matsouaka, R; Betensky, RA; Hyman, BT; Grosskreutz, CL
Published in: Mol Vis
2012

PURPOSE: We previously reported that calcineurin, a Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine phosphatase, is activated and proposed that it participates in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) apoptosis in two rodent ocular hypertension models. In this study, we tested whether calcineurin activation by itself, even in the absence of ocular hypertension, is sufficient to cause RGC degeneration. METHODS: We compared RGC and optic nerve morphology after adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2)-mediated transduction of RGCs with constitutively active calcineurin (CaNCA) or unactivated, wild-type calcineurin (CaNwt). Retinas and optic nerves were harvested 7-16 weeks after injection of the AAV into mouse vitreous. In flatmounted retinas, the transduced RGCs were identified with immunohistochemistry. The morphology of the RGCs was revealed by immunostaining for neurofilament SMI32 or by using GFP-M transgenic mice. A modified Sholl analysis was applied to analyze the RGC dendritic morphology. Optic nerve damage was assessed with optic nerve grading according to the Morrison standard. RESULTS: CaNwt and CaNCA were highly expressed in the injected eyes. Compared to the CaNwt-expressing RGCs, the CaNCA-expressing RGCs had smaller somas, smaller dendritic field areas, shorter total dendrite lengths, and simpler dendritic branching patterns. At 16 weeks, the CaNCA-expressing eyes had greater optic nerve damage than the CaNwt-expressing eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Calcineurin activation is sufficient to cause RGC dendritic degeneration and optic nerve damage. These data support the hypothesis that calcineurin activation is an important mediator of RGC degeneration, and are consistent with the hypothesis that calcineurin activation may contribute to RGC neurodegeneration in glaucoma.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Mol Vis

EISSN

1090-0535

Publication Date

2012

Volume

18

Start / End Page

2828 / 2838

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Transgenes
  • Transduction, Genetic
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells
  • Retinal Degeneration
  • Optic Nerve
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry
  • Nerve Degeneration
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mice
  • Intravitreal Injections
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Qu, J., Matsouaka, R., Betensky, R. A., Hyman, B. T., & Grosskreutz, C. L. (2012). Calcineurin activation causes retinal ganglion cell degeneration. Mol Vis, 18, 2828–2838.
Qu, Juan, Roland Matsouaka, Rebecca A. Betensky, Bradley T. Hyman, and Cynthia L. Grosskreutz. “Calcineurin activation causes retinal ganglion cell degeneration.Mol Vis 18 (2012): 2828–38.
Qu J, Matsouaka R, Betensky RA, Hyman BT, Grosskreutz CL. Calcineurin activation causes retinal ganglion cell degeneration. Mol Vis. 2012;18:2828–38.
Qu, Juan, et al. “Calcineurin activation causes retinal ganglion cell degeneration.Mol Vis, vol. 18, 2012, pp. 2828–38.
Qu J, Matsouaka R, Betensky RA, Hyman BT, Grosskreutz CL. Calcineurin activation causes retinal ganglion cell degeneration. Mol Vis. 2012;18:2828–2838.

Published In

Mol Vis

EISSN

1090-0535

Publication Date

2012

Volume

18

Start / End Page

2828 / 2838

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Transgenes
  • Transduction, Genetic
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells
  • Retinal Degeneration
  • Optic Nerve
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry
  • Nerve Degeneration
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mice
  • Intravitreal Injections