c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 expression in the retina of ocular hypertension mice: a possible target to reduce ganglion cell apoptosis

• Main Authors: Yue He, Jie Chen, Shu-guang Zhang, Yuan-sheng Yuan, Yan Li, Hong-bin Lv, Jin-hua Gan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015-01-01
• Series: Neural Regeneration Research
• Subjects: tamoxifen; Src kinase; PP2; trauma; regeneration; neuroprotection; auranofin; dextromethorphan; rosiglitazone; Alzheimer′s disease; neuroinflammation; neurodegeneration; microglia; astrocytes; nerve regeneration; spinal cord; electroacupuncture therapy; neural stem cells; notch signaling pathway; inflammation; survival curve; proliferation; differentiation; real-time quantitative PCR; western blot assay; neural regeneration; superparamagnetic iron oxide; magnetic guidance; bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; spinal cord injury; cell transplantation; magnetic resonance image; lumbar puncture; spinal cord transection; average combined score; magnetic resonance imaging; diffusion tensor imaging; fractional anisotropy; apparent diffusion coefficient; fiber tractography; peripheral nerve injury; sciatic nerve; hypothermia; blood-nerve barrier; Evans blue tracer; neural degeneration; polyethyleneimine-polyethylene glycol; spiral ganglion cells; X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein; gene therapy; nanocarrier; cisplatin; ototoxicity; cochlea; ocular hypertension; JNK3; retinal ganglion cell; glaucoma; laser photocoagulation; intraocular pressure
• Online Access: http://www.nrronline.org/article.asp?issn=1673-5374;year=2015;volume=10;issue=3;spage=432;epage=437;aulast=He

Glaucoma, a type of optic neuropathy, is characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells. It remains controversial whether c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) participates in the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma. This study sought to explore a possible mechanism of action of JNK signaling pathway in glaucoma-induced retinal optic nerve damage. We established a mouse model of chronic ocular hypertension by reducing the aqueous humor followed by photocoagulation using the laser ignition method. Results showed significant pathological changes in the ocular tissues after the injury. Apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells increased with increased intraocular pressure, as did JNK3 mRNA expression in the retina. These data indicated that the increased expression of JNK3 mRNA was strongly associated with the increase in intraocular pressure in the retina, and correlated positively with the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells.