April 2011
Volume 52, Issue 14
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2011
A Novel IGFBP Like Protein (IGFBPL-1) Promotes Axon Outgrowth In Retinal Ganglion Cells Through The Regulation Of IGF-I Signaling Pathway
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Chenying Guo
    Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Kissaou Tchedre
    Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Kin-Sang Cho
    Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Huihui Chen
    Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Taimur Ahmad
    Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Dong Feng Chen
    Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  Chenying Guo, None; Kissaou Tchedre, None; Kin-Sang Cho, None; Huihui Chen, None; Taimur Ahmad, None; Dong Feng Chen, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  National Eye Institute (EY017641), National Institute of Drug Abuse (DA024803), the Department of Veterans Affairs (1I01RX000110), and the Department of Defense (W81XWH-09-2-0091).
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2011, Vol.52, 4675. doi:
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      Chenying Guo, Kissaou Tchedre, Kin-Sang Cho, Huihui Chen, Taimur Ahmad, Dong Feng Chen; A Novel IGFBP Like Protein (IGFBPL-1) Promotes Axon Outgrowth In Retinal Ganglion Cells Through The Regulation Of IGF-I Signaling Pathway. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2011;52(14):4675.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose: : IGF-I has been shown to play an important role in neuronal cell survival and axon growth, and its effects are mainly mediated through its major receptor IGF-IR. However the underlying mechanisms have not been fully understood. We recently found that a newly discovered protein, IGFBPL-1, may regulate the growth of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons. The studies reported here were aimed to elucidate the functional role and mechanisms of IGFBPL-1 on RGC survival and axon extension in mice.

Methods: : [Expression profile]: The expression pattern of IGFBPL-1 in the developing retina was examined in retinas at different developmental stage, ranging from embryonic day 16 through adult, using immunohistochemistry, western blot and quantitative RT-PCR. [Functional analysis]: Retinal ganglion cells were purified using magnetic beads conjugated with Thy1.2 antibody from new born mouse pups at postnatal day 0 (P0), and cultured for up to five days in the presence or absence of IGFBPL-1 and/or IGF-I proteins. RGC survival and axonal growth were evaluated after three days in culture following LIVE/DEAD® and ß-III-tubulin immunostaining. Lentiviral shRNAs were used to knockdown the expression of IGFBPL-1 and/or IGF-I in culture. [In vivo evaluation]: Functional role of IGFBPL-1 in RGC development was further evaluated in IGFBPL-1 knockout (KO) mouse. RGC morphology and number were recorded using retinal vertical sections or whole-mount preparation. Number of axons in the optic nerve head was counted under electron microscopy. Data collected from the IGFBPL-1 KO mice were compared with that obtained from age-matched wildtype C57BL/6 littermates.

Results: : Expression of IGFBPL-1 was restricted to the RGC layer in the retina with a transient high expression at E16-E18 and largely down-regulated postnatally. Addition of IGFBPL-1 alone or together with IGF-I in P0 RGC cultures significantly promoted axonal extension. Mice deficient for IGFBPL-1 exhibit a largely reduced number of axons in the optic nerve without significantly altering the morphology and number of RGCs.

Conclusions: : IGFBPL-1 may serve as an important regulator of RGC axonal growth during retinal development, likely functioning by facilitating the IGF-I signaling pathway. These studies provide new information to fill the knowledge gap of understanding the molecular events regulating RGC axon growth, protection, and eventually regeneration or repair.

Keywords: optic nerve • ganglion cells • regeneration 
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