Combined effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and LINGO-1 fusion protein on long-term survival of retinal ganglion cells in chronic glaucoma

Neuroscience. 2009 Aug 18;162(2):375-82. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.04.075. Epub 2009 May 5.

Abstract

Glaucoma is a progressive neuropathy characterized by loss of vision as a result of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death. There are no effective neuroprotectants to treat this disorder. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is well known to transiently delay RGC death in ocular hypertensive eyes. The CNS-specific leucine-rich repeat protein LINGO-1 contributes to the negative regulation to some trophic pathways. We thereby examined whether BDNF combined with LINGO-1 antagonists can promote long-term RGC survival after ocular hypertension. In this study, intraocular pressure was elevated in adult rats using an argon laser to photocoagulate the episcleral and limbal veins. BDNF alone shows slight neuroprotection to RGCs after a long-term progress of 4 weeks following the induction of ocular hypertension. However, combination of BDNF and LINGO-1-Fc prevents RGC death in the same condition. We further identified that (1) LINGO-1 was co-expressed with BDNF receptor, TrkB in the RGCs, and (2) BDNF combined with LINGO-1-Fc activated more TrkB in the injured retina compared to BDNF alone. These results indicate that the combination of BDNF with LINGO-1 antagonist can provide long-term protection for RGCs in a chronic ocular hypertension model. TrkB may be the predominant mediator of this neuroprotection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / pharmacology*
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / therapeutic use
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Female
  • Glaucoma / drug therapy*
  • Glaucoma / pathology
  • Glaucoma / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / genetics
  • Intraocular Pressure / drug effects
  • Membrane Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptor, trkB / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / drug effects*
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / pathology

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments
  • LINGO1 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Receptor, trkB