Neuroprotective effects of BDNF and GDNF in intravitreally transplanted mesenchymal stem cells after optic nerve crush in mice.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the neuro-protective effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) following optic nerve crush in mice.


METHODS
C56BL/6J mice were treated with intravitreal injection of PBS, BMSCs, BDNF-interference BMSCs (BIM), and GDNF-interference BMSCs (GIM) following optic nerve crush, respectively. The number of surviving RGCs was determined by whole-mount retinas and frozen sections, while certain mRNA or protein was detected by q-PCR or ELISA, respectively.


RESULTS
The density (cell number/mm2) of RGCs was 410.77±56.70 in the retina 21d after optic nerve crush without any treatment, compared to 1351.39±195.97 in the normal control (P<0.05). RGCs in BMSCs treated eyes was 625.07±89.64/mm2, significantly higher than that of no or PBS treatment (P<0.05). While RGCs was even less in the retina with intravitreal injection of BIM (354.07+39.77) and GIM (326.67+33.37) than that without treatment (P<0.05). BMSCs injection improved the internal BDNF expression in retinas.


CONCLUSIONS
Optic nerve crush caused rust loss of RGCs and intravitreally transplanted BMSCs at some extent protected RGCs from death. The effect of BMSCs and level of BDNF in retinas are both related to BDNF and GDNF expression in BMSCs.
Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
Zong-Li
ZL
Hu
Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
Ni
N
Li
Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
Xin
X
Wei
Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
Li
L
Tang
Institute of Neurological Disease, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
Ting-Hua
TH
Wang
Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
Xiao-Ming
XM
Chen
brain-derived neurotrophic factor; glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor; optic nerve crush; retinal ganglion cells; stem cells