June 2022
Volume 63, Issue 7
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2022
Peptains block retinal ganglion cell death in mice with ocular hypertension
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Ram H Nagaraj
    Ophthalmology, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States
  • Armaan Dhillon
    Ophthalmology, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States
  • Rooban B Nahomi
    Ophthalmology, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States
  • Dorota Luiza Stankowska
    Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
  • Gretchen Annika Johnson
    Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
  • Mi-Hyun Nam
    Ophthalmology, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Ram Nagaraj None; Armaan Dhillon None; Rooban Nahomi None; Dorota Stankowska None; Gretchen Johnson None; Mi-Hyun Nam None
  • Footnotes
    Support  Gates Grubstake Award
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2022, Vol.63, 1616 – A0439. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      Ram H Nagaraj, Armaan Dhillon, Rooban B Nahomi, Dorota Luiza Stankowska, Gretchen Annika Johnson, Mi-Hyun Nam; Peptains block retinal ganglion cell death in mice with ocular hypertension. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2022;63(7):1616 – A0439.

      Download citation file:


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

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose : To determine the neuroprotective effects of chaperone peptides (peptain-1 and peptain-3a) against retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in vitro and two mouse models of ocular hypertension.

Methods : Rat primary RGCs were treated with peptain-1 or peptain-3a in the absence of trophic factors, and the apoptotic and dead cells were counted. Microbeads were injected into the anterior chamber of mice, and after 3 weeks, IOP was elevated. Peptains were injected intravitreally at 1 µg each in PBS and subsequently once a week for 3 weeks. Silicone oil was injected into the anterior chamber to elevate IOP and after 2 weeks the oil was removed and peptains were injected intravitreally at 1µg each in PBS.

Results : Peptains exhibited robust anti-apoptotic activity against neurotrophic factor deprivation in primary RGCs. The microbead-injected eyes had significantly higher IOP levels over a 6-week follow-up than the contralateral control eyes. The number of RGCs decreased by 31% following microbead injection, but peptain-1 and peptain-3a significantly decreased RGC death; to only 4% and 12%, respectively. IOP elevation reduced the anterograde transportation along the length of the optic nerve, but peptains ameliorated this effect. In eyes injected with silicone oil, RGC counts decreased by 39% after 2 weeks. Two weeks after silicone oil removal, the injection of peptain-1 and peptain-3a significantly reduced the RGC loss by 27% and 25%, respectively.

Conclusions : Peptain-1 and peptain-3a protect RGC somas and axons against ocular hypertension in mice. Our results suggest that they could be developed as neuroprotective agents for the treatment of glaucoma.

This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.

×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×