title: Activated retinal glia promote neurite outgrowth of retinal ganglion cells via apolipoprotein E.
abstract: In the present study, we investigated the role and mechanism through which activated retinal glia stimulate retinal ganglion cell (RGC) neurite outgrowth. We have found that the level of retinal glial activation correlates directly with enhanced RGC neurite outgrowth after a preconditioning intravitreal Zymosan injection. Reduction in the number of activated glia in primary rat retinal cultures led to significantly reduced RGC neurite outgrowth. Glial-related neurite outgrowth appears to be, at least in part, mediated via apolipoprotein E (ApoE), which is expressed by activated retinal astrocytes and Müller glia. ApoE-deficient mice showed significantly reduced RGC neurite outgrowth potential after intravitreal Zymosan injection compared with age-matched wild-type animals. These observations suggest that ApoE, expressed by activated retinal glia, stimulates RGC neurite outgrowth after intravitreal Zymosan injection.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Neuroscience Group, School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lorber
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakazawa
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Logan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019771:Axotomy; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005911:Gliosis / Q000378:metabolism; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000254:growth & development*; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015054:Zymosan / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D015054:Zymosan