The E50K optineurin mutation impacts autophagy-mediated degradation of TDP-43 and leads to RGC apoptosis in vivo and in vitro.

The glaucoma-associated E50K mutation in optineurin (OPTN) is known to affect autophagy and cause the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), but the pathogenic mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated whether the OPTN (E50K) mutation caused TDP-43 aggregation by disrupting autophagy in vivo and in vitro. OPTN (E50K) mutant mice were generated and analysed for genotype and phenotype.

Synergistic neuroprotective effect of rasagiline and idebenone against retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury via the Lin28-let-7-Dicer pathway.

Retinal ischemia-reperfusion (RIR) injury causes neuronal degeneration and initiates various optic nerve diseases. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic neuroprotective effect of rasagiline and idebenone against RIR injury. A combination of rasagiline and idebenone was administered intraperitoneally immediately after establishment of the RIR model.

Decreased expression of miR‑9 due to E50K OPTN mutation causes disruption of the expression of BDNF leading to RGC‑5 cell apoptosis.

The aims of the present study were to investigate the effect of E50K optineurin (OPTN) mutation on RGC‑5 cells and to define the role of microRNA‑9 (miR‑9) in this system. Transfected RGC‑5 cells were used to evaluate the effects of E50K OPTN on the expression of miR‑9 and subsequent disruption of RGC‑5 cell apoptosis was analyzed using western blotting. The results showed that the expression of E50K OPTN was associated with a marked reduction in the levels of miR‑9 in the E50K OPTN‑transfected RGC‑5 cells.

Lentiviral Delivery of Small Hairpin RNA Targeting Connective Tissue Growth Factor Blocks Profibrotic Signaling in Tenon's Capsule Fibroblasts.

Purposes: Trabeculectomy is a surgical procedure for lowering intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients, in which excessive scarring leading to failure of the filtering bleb adversely affects the surgical outcome. Heightened Tenon's capsule fibroblast (TCF) proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition are implicated in this process but endogenous factors that regulate TCF functions remain largely elusive. This study sought to elucidate the role of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the regulation of TCF phenotypes and signaling.

Expression profiling of microRNAs in optineurin (E50K) mutant transgenic mice.

An E50K substitution in the transcription factor optineurin (OPTN) induces primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). To explore the potential role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in E50K OPTN-induced POAG, miRNA expression profiling was performed on retinal samples from OPTN (E50K) transgenic and wild-type mice. The retinas were collected from 30 transgenic and 30 wild-type mice, and miRNA expression was evaluated using a genome-wide miRNA microarray.

[Protective effects of metallothionein induced by dexamethasone against ischemia/reperfusion injury of myocardium of isolated rat heart].

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of metallothionein (MT) induced by dexamethasone (DEX) against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of myocardium of isolated rat heart.

Methods: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided randomly into the DEX and control groups. In the former group, the rats were pretreated with DEX, and in latter group distilled water was given before their hearts were isolated for Langendorff perfusion and I/R.

Genomic analysis of the rat lung following elemental mercury vapor exposure.

Elemental mercury (Hg0) is a highly toxic chemical with increasing public health concern. Although the lung receives the highest exposure to Hg0 vapor, it is resistant to Hg0 toxicity relative to the kidney and brain. In an earlier study, exposure of rats to 4 mg Hg0 vapor/m3, 2 h per day for 10 days, did not produce pathological alterations in the lung but increased metallothionein and glutathione S-transferase in the kidney.