Retinal Pre-conditioning by CD59a knockout protects against light-induced photoreceptor degeneration

  • Delu Song
  • , Brooks Wilson
  • , Liangliang Zhao
  • , Rupak Bhuyan
  • , Mausumi Bandyopadhyay
  • , Arkady Lyubarsky
  • , Chen Yu
  • , Yafeng Li
  • , Levi Kanu
  • , Takashi Miwa
  • , Wen Chao Song
  • , Silvia C. Finnemann
  • , Bärbel Rohrer
  • , Joshua L. Dunaief

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Complement dysregulation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but the specific mechanisms are incompletely understood. Complement also potentiates retinal degeneration in the murine light damage model. To test the retinal function of CD59a, a complement inhibitor, CD59a knockout (KO) mice were used for light damage (LD) experiments. Retinal degeneration and function were compared in WT versus KO mice following light damage. Gene expression changes, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and glial cell activation were also compared. At baseline, the ERG responses and rhodopsin levels were lower in CD59aKO compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Following LD, the ERG responses were better preserved in CD59aKO compared to WT mice. Correspondingly, the number of photoreceptors was higher in CD59aKO retinas than WT controls after LD. Under normal light conditions, CD59aKO mice had higher levels than WT for GFAP immunostaining in Müller cells, mRNA and protein levels of two ER-stress markers, and neurotrophic factors. The reduction in photon capture, together with the neurotrophic factor upregulation, may explain the structural and functional protection against LD in the CD59aKO.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0166348
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume11
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2016
Externally publishedYes

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