Deletion of Arginase 2 Ameliorates Retinal Neurodegeneration in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis
Recommended Citation
Palani CD, Fouda AY, Liu F, Xu Z, Mohamed E, Giri S, Smith SB, Caldwell RB, and Narayanan SP. Deletion of Arginase 2 Ameliorates Retinal Neurodegeneration in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis. Mol Neurobiol 2019.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-6-2019
Publication Title
Molecular neurobiology
Abstract
Optic neuritis is a major clinical feature of multiple sclerosis (MS) and can lead to temporary or permanent vision loss. Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated the critical involvement of arginase 2 (A2) in retinal neurodegeneration in models of ischemic retinopathy. The current study was undertaken to investigate the role of A2 in MS-mediated retinal neuronal damage and degeneration. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in wild-type (WT) and A2 knockout (A2(-/-)) mice. EAE-induced motor deficits, loss of retinal ganglion cells, retinal thinning, inflammatory signaling, and glial activation were studied in EAE-treated WT and A2(-/-) mice and their respective controls. Increased expression of A2 was observed in WT retinas in response to EAE induction. EAE-induced motor deficits were markedly reduced in A2(-/-) mice compared with WT controls. Retinal flat mount studies demonstrated a significant reduction in the number of RGCs in WT EAE retinas in comparison with normal control mice. A significant improvement in neuronal survival was evident in retinas of EAE-induced A2(-/-) mice compared with WT. RNA levels of the proinflammatory molecules CCL2, COX2, IL-1alpha, and IL-12alpha were significantly reduced in the A2(-/-) EAE retinas compared with WT EAE. EAE-induced activation of glia (microglia and Muller cells) was markedly reduced in A2(-/-) retinas compared with WT. Western blot analyses showed increased levels of phospho-ERK1/2 and reduced levels of phospho-BAD in the WT EAE retina, while these changes were prevented in A2(-/-) mice. In conclusion, our studies establish EAE as an excellent model to study MS-mediated retinal neuronal damage and suggest the potential value of targeting A2 as a therapy to prevent MS-mediated retinal neuronal injury.
PubMed ID
31280447
ePublication
ePub ahead of print
