Axonal regeneration of optic nerve after crush after PirBsiRNA transfection.

Axon can't regenerate after central nervous system injury because of myelin-associated protein exerting its effects through the paired immunoglobulin like receptor (PirB). In our study, axon regeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after optic nerve (ON) crush was investigated both in vivo and in vitro in rat after PirBsiRNA transfection. The eyes transfected with AAV-PirBsiRNA were as experimental group. Partial ON injury was induced by using ON clip to crush the ON 1 mm behind the eyeball for 9 s. PirB protein was analyzed by western blot. Growth Associated Protein 43 (GAP-43) was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining on the frozen sections. Image analyzer was used to the axonal growth of RGCs. PirB expression in retina and optic nerve of experimental group is less than control group. The regenerated axon of experimental group is longer compared to control group. Our result indicate that PirB genes play an important role in the axonal regeneration after ON injury, wheresas knokdown of PirB is effective to improve axonal regeneration.