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Abstract #84802 Published in IGR 21-1
Early removal of senescent cells protects retinal ganglion cells loss in experimental ocular hypertension
Rocha LR; Nguyen Huu VA; Palomino La Torre C; Xu Q; Jabari M; Krawczyk M; Weinreb RN; Skowronska-Krawczyk DAging Cell 2020; 19: e13089
Experimental ocular hypertension induces senescence of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that mimics events occurring in human glaucoma. Senescence-related chromatin remodeling leads to profound transcriptional changes including the upregulation of a subset of genes that encode multiple proteins collectively referred to as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Emerging evidence suggests that the presence of these proinflammatory and matrix-degrading molecules has deleterious effects in a variety of tissues. In the current study, we demonstrated in a transgenic mouse model that early removal of senescent cells induced upon elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) protects unaffected RGCs from senescence and apoptosis. Visual evoked potential (VEP) analysis demonstrated that remaining RGCs are functional and that the treatment protected visual functions. Finally, removal of endogenous senescent retinal cells after IOP elevation by a treatment with senolytic drug dasatinib prevented loss of retinal functions and cellular structure. Senolytic drugs may have the potential to mitigate the deleterious impact of elevated IOP on RGC survival in glaucoma and other optic neuropathies.
Shiley Eye Institute, Hamilton Glaucoma Center and Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Full articleClassification:
3.10 Immunobiology (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
11.14 Investigational drugs; pharmacological experiments (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
5.1 Rodent (Part of: 5 Experimental glaucoma; animal models)