April 2009
Volume 50, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2009
CNTF Over-Expression Leads to Increased Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival in Experimental Glaucoma
M. Pease; D. J. Zack; C. Berlinicke; K. Bloom; F. Cone; Y. Wang; R. L. Klein; W. W. Hauswirth; H. A. Quigley
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • M. Pease
    Ophthalmology,
    Johns Hopkins University, Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
  • D. J. Zack
    Ophthalmology,
    Johns Hopkins University, Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
  • C. Berlinicke
    Ophthalmology,
    Johns Hopkins University, Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
  • K. Bloom
    Ophthalmology,
    Johns Hopkins University, Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
  • F. Cone
    Ophthalmology,
    Johns Hopkins University, Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
  • Y. Wang
    Ophthalmology,
    Johns Hopkins University, Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
  • R. L. Klein
    Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
  • W. W. Hauswirth
    Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainsville, Florida
  • H. A. Quigley
    Dana Center for Preventative Ophthalmology,
    Johns Hopkins University, Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  M. Pease, None; D.J. Zack, None; C. Berlinicke, None; K. Bloom, None; F. Cone, None; Y. Wang, None; R.L. Klein, None; W.W. Hauswirth, AGTC, Inc, C; H.A. Quigley, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  NIH EY02120, EY01765, EY13729, EY11123, EY08571, Research to Prevent Blindness, and Leonard Wagner Trust
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2009, Vol.50, 4052. doi:
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      M. Pease, D. J. Zack, C. Berlinicke, K. Bloom, F. Cone, Y. Wang, R. L. Klein, W. W. Hauswirth, H. A. Quigley; CNTF Over-Expression Leads to Increased Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival in Experimental Glaucoma. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2009;50(13):4052.

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Abstract

Purpose: : To assess the neuroprotective effect of virally-mediated over-expression of ciliary derived neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in experimental rat glaucoma.

Methods: : Laser-induced glaucoma was produced in one eye of 224 Wistar rats after injection of adneo-associated viral vectors (type 2) containing either CNTF, BDNF, or both, using saline injected eyes and uninjected glaucoma eyes as controls. IOP was measured with the TonoLab and semi-automated optic nerve axon counts were performed by masked observers. IOP exposure over time was adjusted in multivariate regression analysis to calculate the effect of CNTF and BNDF.

Results: : By multivariate regression, CNTF had a significant protective effect, with 15% less RGC axon loss (p < 0.01). Both combined CNTF-BNDF and BDNF over-expression alone had no statistically significant improvement in RGC axon survival. By Western blot, there was a quantitative increase in CNTF and BDNF expression in retinas exposed to single viral vectors carrying each gene, but no increase with sequential injection of both vectors.

Conclusions: : These data confirm that CNTF can exert a protective effect in experimental glaucoma. The reason for a lack of observed effect with the BDNF over-expression groups is unclear, but may be a function of the level of neurotrophin expression achieved.

Keywords: neuroprotection • ganglion cells • optic nerve 
© 2009, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
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