title: Up-regulation of Hrk, a regulator of cell death, in retinal ganglion cells of axotomized rat retina.
abstract: Hrk, a regulator of cell death, belongs to the family of pro-apoptotic BH3-only proteins and is known to induce apoptosis in nerve tissue. We examined Hrk gene expression to clarify the role of BH3-only proteins in apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after optic nerve transection in the adult rat. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that Hrk was up-regulated in retina from 12 h after axotomy, and continued to be elevated for 1 week. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed that Hrk was expressed in a sub-population of axotomized RGCs. These results suggest that Hrk is involved in the induction of apoptosis in RGCs after optic nerve transection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan. wakatake@md.tsukba.ac.jp
authors.forename: Taketoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kosaka
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hommura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019771:Axotomy; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology*; D048429:Cell Size / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012183:Retrograde Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger