[Protective effects of transplantation of hCNTF-transfected cell line on axotomy-induced degeneration of retinal ganglion cells].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective effects of transplantation of cell line stably expressing and secreting human ciliary neurotrophic factor (hCNTF) on the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after optic nerve transection.


METHODS
Plasmid encoding hCNTF was transfected into human lung fibroblast (HLF) cell line, then the stably transfected clones were selected with methopterin. In adult SD rats, RGCs were labeled with retrograde axonal tracer fluorogold (FG) injected to their targets including dorsal lateral geniculate nuclei (dLGN) and superior colliculi (SC). Seven days later, the optic nerve was transected alone or in combination with transplantation of HLF cells. Five, 14, 17, 21 and 28 days after axotomy, the retinas were mounted and examined under fluorescence microscope to observe the RGCs.


RESULTS
Compared to the controls, the density of RGC in axotomy group decreased by 67.44% and 82.73% on the 14th and 28th day, respectively. In the eyes with hCNTF-transfected HLF cells transplantation, RGC density was higher than that of the axotomy group on the 5th, 17th, 21st day after axotomy (P < 0.05). On the 5th day, the morphology of RGC in the hCNTF group remained the same as the controls, whereas the morphology of RGC in the axotomy alone group began to change.


CONCLUSIONS
hCNTF administered at the time of optic nerve transection can protect RGC from degeneration, increasing the numbers of surviving RGCs and delaying the death of RGCs.
Li
Hui-ming
HM
Central Experimental Laboratory, The First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200080, China.
Lu
Shi-duo
SD
Xia
Xin
X
Xu
Ping
P
Wang
Feng
F
Huang
Qian
Q
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology*
D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor