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Tumor necrosis factor alpha has an early protective effect on retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve crush

Overview of attention for article published in Journal of Neuroinflammation, November 2014
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Title
Tumor necrosis factor alpha has an early protective effect on retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve crush
Published in
Journal of Neuroinflammation, November 2014
DOI 10.1186/s12974-014-0194-3
Pubmed ID
Authors

Caitlin E Mac Nair, Kimberly A Fernandes, Cassandra L Schlamp, Richard T Libby, Robert W Nickells

Abstract

BackgroundGlaucoma is an optic neuropathy that is characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) initiated by damage to axons in the optic nerve. The degeneration and death of RGCs has been thought to occur in two waves. The first is axogenic, caused by direct insult to the axon. The second is somatic, and is thought to be caused by the production of inflammatory cytokines from the activated retinal innate immune cells. One of the cytokines consistently linked to glaucoma and RGC damage has been TNF¿. Despite strong evidence implicating this protein in neurodegeneration, a direct injection of TNF¿ does not mimic the rapid loss of RGCs observed after acute optic nerve trauma or exposure to excitotoxins. This suggests that our understanding of TNF¿ signaling is incomplete.MethodsRGC death was induced by optic nerve crush in mice. The role of TNF¿ in this process was examined by quantitative PCR of Tnf¿ gene expression, and quantification of cell loss in Tnf¿ ¿/¿ mice or in wild-type animals receiving an intraocular injection of exongenous TNF¿ either before or after crush. Signaling pathways downstream of TNF¿ were examined by immunolabeling for JUN protein accumulation or activation of EGFP expression in NF¿B reporter mice.ResultsOptic nerve crush caused a modest increase in Tnf¿ gene expression, with kinetics similar to the activation of both macroglia and microglia. A pre-injection of TNF¿ attenuated ganglion cell loss after crush, while ganglion cell loss was more severe in Tnf¿ ¿/¿ mice. Conversely, over the long term, a single exposure to TNF¿ induced extrinsic apoptosis in RGCs. Müller cells responded to exogenous TNF¿ by accumulating JUN and activating NF¿B.ConclusionEarly after optic nerve crush, TNF¿ appears to have a protective role for RGCs, which may be mediated through Müller cells.

Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 63 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Hungary 1 2%
Unknown 62 98%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Ph. D. Student 17 27%
Student > Master 8 13%
Researcher 7 11%
Student > Bachelor 6 10%
Student > Doctoral Student 4 6%
Other 11 17%
Unknown 10 16%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Neuroscience 17 27%
Medicine and Dentistry 10 16%
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 8 13%
Agricultural and Biological Sciences 8 13%
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science 3 5%
Other 3 5%
Unknown 14 22%