[The effect of copolymer-1 on the apoptosis and the IL-6R expression of the retinal ganglion cells in chronic elevated intraocular pressure rat model].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of autoimmune response induced by copolymer-1 (COP-1) on apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and IL-6R expression on the RGCs in chronic elevated intraocular pressure (EIOP) rat models.


METHODS
Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, namely normal control group, mock-immunized EIOP group and COP-1-immunized EIOP group. Cauterization of episcleral vein was used to set up rat's EIOP model. The normal control rats were not immunized, whereas the rats in the other two groups were immunized via i.p injection with normal saline and COP-1 at hindfeet, respectively. The expression of the IL-6R on RGCs was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The apoptosis of the RGCs was examined by TUNEL staining.


RESULTS
The number of the apoptotic RGCs in the COP-1- immunized EIOP group was notably lower than that in mock-immunized EIOP group (P<0.05). IL-6R were expressed on RGCs in all 3 groups, and expression level of IL-6R increased in the following order: normal control group, mock-immunized EIOP group and COP-1-immunized EIOP group (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The autoimmune response induced by COP-1 protects the RGCs from apoptosis under the condition of chronic EIOP and results in increased IL-6R expression on RGCs. These results suggest that increased IL-6R expression on RGCs induced by COP-1 immunization with the protection of neurons resulted from autoimmune response is related.
Liu
Jie
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, China. lj_cjl@163.com
Du
Zhao-jiang
ZJ
Yang
Xin-guang
XG
Kuang
Fang
F
Li
Gai-li
GL
Duan
Xiao-li
XL
Wang
Bai-ren
BR
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010455:Peptides; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate