Biomaterial Database

Caspase inhibitors block the retinal ganglion cell death following optic nerve transection. 1999

P Chaudhary, and F Ahmed, and P Quebada, and S C Sharma

Department of Ophthalmology/Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.

Retinal ganglion cells die by apoptosis following axotomy. The molecular mechanisms of the retinal ganglion cell death are not well understood. In the present study using RT-PCR and in situ hybridization techniques we demonstrated that levels of mRNA for Bcl-2 and Bcl-x decreased after axotomy. Bax levels remained high until 4 days after axotomy, decreased by day 7 and remained low up to day 10. CPP32 levels increased at day 7 and remained high after optic nerve cut. We studied whether inhibitors of CPP32/caspase would save the axotomy induced ganglion cell death. DEVD-CHO (Ac-Asp-Glu-Val-aspartic acid aldehyde) and DEVD-FMK (Z-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-FMK), caspase inhibitors, when administered intraocularly at the time of optic nerve cut, at days 3 and 7 protect about 30-35% the ganglion cells from death. We further demonstrated that the number of reactive microglia decrease in the retina when the inhibitors were given as compared with retina where no inhibitors were given. The present data offers new avenues for studying the complex interactions between the retinal ganglion cell death and the activation of resident microglia/macrophages.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009842	Oligopeptides	Peptides composed of between two and twelve amino acids.	Oligopeptide
D009900	Optic Nerve	The 2nd cranial nerve which conveys visual information from the RETINA to the brain. The nerve carries the axons of the RETINAL GANGLION CELLS which sort at the OPTIC CHIASM and continue via the OPTIC TRACTS to the brain. The largest projection is to the lateral geniculate nuclei; other targets include the SUPERIOR COLLICULI and the SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEI. Though known as the second cranial nerve, it is considered part of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Cranial Nerve II,Second Cranial Nerve,Nervus Opticus,Cranial Nerve, Second,Cranial Nerves, Second,Nerve, Optic,Nerve, Second Cranial,Nerves, Optic,Nerves, Second Cranial,Optic Nerves,Second Cranial Nerves
D011518	Proto-Oncogene Proteins	Products of proto-oncogenes. Normally they do not have oncogenic or transforming properties, but are involved in the regulation or differentiation of cell growth. They often have protein kinase activity.	Cellular Proto-Oncogene Proteins,c-onc Proteins,Proto Oncogene Proteins, Cellular,Proto-Oncogene Products, Cellular,Cellular Proto Oncogene Proteins,Cellular Proto-Oncogene Products,Proto Oncogene Products, Cellular,Proto Oncogene Proteins,Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Cellular,c onc Proteins
D004792	Enzyme Precursors	Physiologically inactive substances that can be converted to active enzymes.	Enzyme Precursor,Proenzyme,Proenzymes,Zymogen,Zymogens,Precursor, Enzyme,Precursors, Enzyme
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012165	Retinal Ganglion Cells	Neurons of the innermost layer of the retina, the internal plexiform layer. They are of variable sizes and shapes, and their axons project via the OPTIC NERVE to the brain. A small subset of these cells act as photoreceptors with projections to the SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEUS, the center for regulating CIRCADIAN RHYTHM.	Cell, Retinal Ganglion,Cells, Retinal Ganglion,Ganglion Cell, Retinal,Ganglion Cells, Retinal,Retinal Ganglion Cell
D015853	Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors	Exogenous and endogenous compounds which inhibit CYSTEINE ENDOPEPTIDASES.	Acid Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitor,Cysteine Protease Inhibitor,Cysteine Protease Inhibitors,Cysteine Proteinase Antagonist,Cysteine Proteinase Antagonists,Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitor,Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors, Endogenous,Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors, Exogenous,alpha-Cysteine Protease Inhibitor,Acid Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors,alpha-Cysteine Protease Inhibitors,Antagonist, Cysteine Proteinase,Antagonists, Cysteine Proteinase,Inhibitor, Cysteine Protease,Inhibitor, Cysteine Proteinase,Inhibitor, alpha-Cysteine Protease,Inhibitors, Cysteine Protease,Inhibitors, Cysteine Proteinase,Inhibitors, alpha-Cysteine Protease,Protease Inhibitor, Cysteine,Protease Inhibitor, alpha-Cysteine,Protease Inhibitors, Cysteine,Protease Inhibitors, alpha-Cysteine,Proteinase Antagonist, Cysteine,Proteinase Antagonists, Cysteine,Proteinase Inhibitor, Cysteine,Proteinase Inhibitors, Cysteine,alpha Cysteine Protease Inhibitor,alpha Cysteine Protease Inhibitors
D015870	Gene Expression	The phenotypic manifestation of a gene or genes by the processes of GENETIC TRANSCRIPTION and GENETIC TRANSLATION.	Expression, Gene,Expressions, Gene,Gene Expressions
D017208	Rats, Wistar	A strain of albino rat developed at the Wistar Institute that has spread widely at other institutions. This has markedly diluted the original strain.	Wistar Rat,Rat, Wistar,Wistar Rats