Retinoid x receptor modulation protects against ER stress response and rescues glaucoma phenotypes in adult mice.

This study investigated changes in RXR expression in the human and mouse retina under glaucomatous stress conditions and investigated the effect of RXR modulation on the RGCs using pharmacological approaches. RXR protein levels in retina were downregulated in both human glaucoma and experimental RGC injury models while RXR agonist, bexarotene treatment resulted in upregulation of RXR expression particularly in the inner retinal layers. Retinal electrophysiological recordings and histological analysis indicated that inner retinal function and retinal laminar structure were preserved upon treatment with bexarotene. These protective effects were associated with downregulation of ER stress marker response upon bexarotene treatment under glaucoma conditions. Overall, retinal RXR modulation by bexarotene significantly protected RGCs in vivo in both acute and chronic glaucoma models.
PMID: 30703361 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Experimental Neurology - January 28, 2019 Category: Neurology Authors: Dheer Y, Chitranshi N, Gupta V, Sharma S, Pushpitha K, Abbasi M, Mirzaei M, You Y, Graham SL, Gupta V Tags: Exp Neurol Source Type: research