Neuroprotective effects of cardiotrophin-like cytokine on retinal ganglion cells.
BACKGROUND
Premature neuronal cell death is a feature of numerous central nervous system and eye diseases, including glaucoma. Neurons (including retinal ganglion cells, RGCs) are protected by several neurotrophic factors, among those the IL-6 family of cytokines. Lately, a novel member of the IL-6 family of cytokines has been identified and cloned. This cytokine is known as novel neurotrophin-1/B-cell-stimulating factor-3 (NNT-1/BSF-3) or cardiotrophin-like cytokine (CLC). It shows neurotrophic as well as B-cell stimulatory effects.


METHODS
In this study, the neuroprotective properties of CLC on RGC loss in vivo were investigated.


RESULTS
CLC significantly protected RGCs from degeneration in both chosen models of retinal neuronal damage: optic nerve crush (P<0.01) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) injection (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
CLC shows neuroprotective effects on RGCs in vivo and might be a treatment option for chronic neurodegenerative eye diseases such as glaucoma. Clinical feasibility for the substance requires further investigation since the immunomodulatory and possible adverse effects have not yet been thoroughly characterized.
Schuettauf
Frank
F
Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. fschuettauf@uni-tuebingen.de
Zurakowski
David
D
Quinto
Kristine
K
Varde
Meghana A
MA
Besch
Dorothea
D
Laties
Alan
A
Anderson
Ralph
R
Wen
Rong
R
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014822:Vitreous Body
D016207:Cytokines; C121169:cardiotrophin-like cytokine; D016202:N-Methylaspartate